How To Protect Your Child During A Divorce
I am often asked how to best protect your child during a divorce. Sometimes these people have been advised to seek legal advice from a lawyer who is a member of Resolution, but what exactly does this mean?
Resolution is a group of family lawyers and other professionals committed to the constructive resolution of family disputes. Members follow a Code of Practice that promotes a non-confrontational approach to family problems. Members encourage solutions that consider the needs of the whole family – and in particular the best interests of children.
Resolution has recently finished their biggest campaign of the year, Family Dispute Resolution Week.
To coincide with the campaign they have produced a powerful new video. It is aimed at members of the public who are going through a separation or know someone else who is. The video sends a strong message about the range of people that separation can affect – particularly children, in keeping with Resolution’s Code of Practice. It encourages people to contact, or to recommend contact, with a Resolution member in order to deal with their separation or divorce in ‘a better way’.
During their campaign Resolution released the results of a survey asking children and young people about how they felt their parents’ divorce had affected them. One in five young people said that they “didn’t get the exam results” they were hoping for with the majority (65%) saying it was their GCSE exam results that suffered. A significant minority of young people also reported that they drank more alcohol, experimented with drugs and started smoking cigarettes as a coping strategy to deal with their parents’ breakup.
With these statistics, it is evident that it is essential that conflict is minimised during divorce and thereby mitigating “collateral damage” to children.
It does appear that the public are gaining a broader awareness that there are steps parents can take to protect their children during separation and that divorce doesn’t have to be devastating.
Whether we like it or not, sometimes parents break up, and regrettably sometimes this can negatively impact on their children.
I have seen the effects on children from a high-conflict separation. It’s something that too many children go through in this country and it is not necessary. Parents have it in their power to choose a better way for their family.
I hope that parents can put their children before their conflict and find a better way forward.
If you would like any advice on how to best protect your child during a divorce or any other aspect of family law; please contact Paul Prentice at any time on 01483 237 989 or email him at paul@prenticefamilylaw.co.uk