Author: Elizabeth King

Florida law favors shared parental responsibility after a divorce with minor children. Judges frown on parents who try to alienate one parent from another. Florida Statute §61.13 acknowledges that the parent who tries to facilitate a relationship with the other acts in the best interest of the child.

As society has developed  an increased awareness of domestic violence and its corrosive effect on families, our laws have become increasingly complex.  Domestic violence results in physical injury, psychological trauma and sometimes death.

It comes as no surprise that during a divorce emotions tend to run high. Very few of us, when faced with one of life’s most traumatic events are able to remain calm and detached at all times.  We all have a tendency to want to circle the wagons, round up our allies  and disparage those who may have hurt us.

Most contested divorces and other types of family law cases resolve by informal or formal mediation.   Mediation is a confidential meeting between the parties, their attorneys and a neutral third party.  During mediation the parties attempt to reduce to writing an agreement that resolves either all or part of the disputed issues. 

So you and your spouse have decided to go forward with the divorce. The time to disengage has finally arrived! Now would be an excellent time to change your text messaging habits. Text messages have become a favored method of communication across all ages and demographics.

One of the best things you can do for your family during a divorce is to think hard at outset about what it means to put your children first. Determine what changes you need to make in your own attitude and conduct to reflect that decision. This advice applies regardless of your spouse’s anticipated behavior in relation to the children.   Don’t get drawn into the blame game and the “tit-for-tat.”

It is no secret that times have changed for those of us who recall  when the vast majority of children were born to married parents.  Just as the divorce rate has risen over the past decade, so has the number of children born to unmarried mothers.