Articles Posted in Divorce / Dissolution of Marriage

Children in a divorce can significantly impacted by the divorce if parents do not take proper precautions and try to make the transition easier on children. According to a new study, there is a link between kids of divorce and suicide. The study quickly gives a disclaimer, as will I, that this does not mean that children of divorce are going to commit suicide, it simply shows that children can be impacted significantly unless parents take precautions to help with the transition.

The study conducted by Esme Fuller-Thompson, a professor at the University of Toronto, showed that men from divorced families are three time more likely to consider suicide and that women of divorce have an 83% higher chance of considering suicide. The study indicates that while they did research on a number of individuals there are certain factors missing, including how much time parents spent with the children post divorce. In addition, the number of suicidal ideations decreased for women when abuse and addiction situations were removed. However, for men, the number remained the same with those factors removed. The overall basis of the study was to see the correlation, but the study failed to find out what the root cause is, which led to the speculation that men often lose their male role model in a divorce and that lack of male influence has a strong impact on men as they grow from boyhood.

Florida timesharing allows for parents to think about kids first without first thinking about “custody”. Timesharing replaced the terms, “custody” and “visitation” in 2007 to help put children first in the divorce. The idea is that parents do not need to look at children as property, but as kids that need guidance from both parents and hopefully, as both parents put the children first during and after the divorce the findings from the study will decrease over time.

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Children are misplaced in a divorce. Florida law has tried to counteract the effects of divorce on children by providing parenting class requirements and changing custody to timesharing and parenting plans. However, a recent study shows that maybe the changes are not all that is needed, but an actual understanding of the psychological impact divorce has on children. The study done by the University of Wisconsin-Madison showed that the living environment surrounding the kids before divorce proceedings does not have as much impact as actually starting the divorce proceedings.

The study took 3,585 students ranging from kindergarten to fifth grade and examined the impact on divorce on the children. The kids in the study were compared to those in stable, intact families. The most impacted area of the children were in their math studies since it is the one that builds on itself and requires foundation for future learning (1+1=2 is beginning to multiplying). The study’s researcher, Hyun Sik Kim, attributed the setbacks to not only a change of environment, but also the balance of time with each parent and economic changes based on the parents each being impacted by changes in income (child support, one income family, etc.).

Before proceeding forward find out what you can expect in the immediate and distant future by speaking with a lawyer in your area.

Timesharing and divorce can impact children in school, home and socially according to a new study. In a Florida divorce involving children, parents are encouraged to look at visitation as timesharing with the other parent and to develop parenting plans so that they can resolve issues together rather than at odds with each other. However, a recent study done at the University of Wisconsin-Madison showed that divorce first begins impacting children once they proceedings start.

Florida divorces involving children require that parents attend a parenting class to help them better understand the effects divorce may have on their children from beginning to end. Divorce does not just end with a judge making a decision, but will continue throughout the lives of the children since both parents will live in separate homes.

Florida adopted timesharing plans to help put kids at the front of the parents minds when going through a divorce. However, if parents are not willing to change their reactions or ways of handling a divorce, then the children will remain negatively impacted. If you are thinking of divorcing, it is a good idea to speak with a lawyer about your divorce and your concerns involving children before actually filing for divorce.

Written By: Lenorae C. Atter, Attorney

Wood, Atter & Wolf, P.A.

Divorce impacts families from the parents to children and often children want to have a say in where they live. Florida recognizes that children need to be considered in a divorce and has established that a time-sharing and parenting plan should be established for the benefit of the children by taking into consideration the school and extracurricular activities of the kids. In addition, the time-sharing plan should provide time for each parent to develop a parent-child relationship though they may not live in the same home on a daily basis.