The most amicable, imminent divorce relationships can become problematic during certain times of the year: holiday seasons, vacations, birthdays, etc. Family law attorneys often find that cases either settle or explode with the approach of these occasions.

We often hear that half of all marriages end in divorce. In 2021, there were approximately 1.99 million marriages in the United States. That same year, the National Children’s Alliance reported 600,000 cases of child abuse (thought to be below the actual number of child abuse cases, due to the many cases that were not reported during the COVID-19 pandemic). Of course, not every family law case involves an allegation of physical or emotional abuse. Throughout the year, judges often find themselves besieged by pleadings raising allegations of abuse as litigants seek to undermine each other’s access to their children in the hopes that any emergency relief granted will color access going forward. What can attorneys do to maintain healthy family relationships even in times of stress?

  • Every child deserves a loving home and a healthy relationship with each parent.
  • Co-parenting is a skill that can be challenged when there is some type of dysfunction within the family unit, such as the presence of addictive, neglectful or abusive behavior.
  • Respect, civility, and open communication are essential elements to successful co-parenting.
  • No one should fear abuse, abandonment or financial hardship.
  • Authoritative parenting means giving children healthy choices, and when needed, setting appropriate boundaries.
  • Parents should model good choices, involvement and listening to hear rather than listening-to-react for their children.