Can You Have A Child-Centered Divorce?

ByChris A. Spofford Hours Categories Children & Family

If you have children, you essentially already have a child-centered divorce because your child should be the most important part of your divorce process. When considering a child-centered divorce, the focus invariably shifts to addressing the needs of the child, particularly in cases where primary custody is under discussion.

Situations involving children with special needs, varying from mild to severe conditions, require specific attention during a divorce. A child with physical disabilities, such as being wheelchair-bound, becomes a pivotal concern in the divorce proceedings. Ensuring that they have adequate provisions becomes a central focus.

Additionally, emotional issues in children might be exacerbated during divorce. While some children may navigate this period relatively well, others may require extra support or professional intervention to cope with the emotional distress caused by the process.

Emphasizing a child-centered divorce underscores the critical impact this transition has on a child’s formative years and future life. Negative repercussions stemming from a divorce can significantly influence a child’s well-being and future development.

Therefore, the primary focus during a divorce should always center on providing the best possible care and support for the children to navigate through this period with minimal distress. However, it is important to not fall into the trap of attempting to keep the child away from the other parent due to perceived concerns. The court will need to assess whether these concerns are genuinely about the child’s welfare or reflect personal grievances.

It’s imperative to ensure that decisions made during the divorce process genuinely serve the child’s best interests, rather than being influenced by personal dynamics between the parents.

A child-centered divorce prioritizes the child’s well-being, aiming to navigate the process with sensitivity and ensuring their emotional and mental welfare are safeguarded throughout the transition.

For more information or to schedule a consultation you can call (713) 526-2400. Our office is located at 3000 Weslayan, Suite 365, Houston, TX 77027.

Chris A. Spofford, Family Law and Divorce Attorney
+ posts

Chris A. Spofford is a Houston-based divorce and family law attorney with over 30 years of experience. He has assisted thousands of Texans in navigating the complex waters of divorce and family law matters.

Chris was among the first lawyers in Texas to be trained in Collaborative Divorce in 2000. He has distinguished himself in both intense courtroom trials and through innovative alternatives such as divorce mediation and collaborative family law.

Similar Posts

  • Children in Divorce

    ByChris A. Spofford

    Children are prone to worry and invariably, children in divorce experience it as traumatic. As obvious as that seems, it is not always so obvious what to do for them, and how best to act on your natural concern for children in divorce. One of a child’s primary worries is his or her sense of security. In our Family Law practice, we regard children’s welfare and security as the highest priority and work with every client to understand what this will mean for each family individually. These five questions are a good place to start: You may have many questions about children in divorce that Chris A. Spofford can help you answer. Among the many issues that concern you now, he can help you with three key legal…

  • How To Tell Your Kids About Your Divorce

    ByChris A. Spofford

    In the delicate conversation of discussing your decision to divorce with your children, seeking professional guidance from a mental health expert such as a therapist experienced in handling children’s emotions during a divorce is always wise.  In most cases, it is best for you and your spouse to jointly tell your kids about the impending changes. These conversations are the most successful when handled together.  As their parents, you should reassure them that the divorce, while it will affect them, is not about them, and that you both will continue to love and care for them deeply. In this conversation, it is essential to emphasize that your children will maintain substantial contact with you both despite the changes.  You should encourage questions and maintain transparency…

  • Children and Texas Family Law: What is Reasonable?

    ByChris A. Spofford

    Child Custody and Time The term “reasonable” appears at least once in virtually every order involving children in a Texas Family Law divorce or child custody matter. So what does “reasonable” mean? In Texas Family Law, “reasonable” is considered to be what an ordinary person would think it means, without considering the emotional motivation of a parent involved in a Texas Family Law divorce matter. This is a delicate situation that arises with child custody and we offer this article to help parents understand how Texas family courts operate so parents can be better prepared to make decisions in their best interest and in the best interest of their children. Here are two areas where the question, “What is reasonable?” often arises. Reasonable telephone access to your child while he or she is with the other parent…

  • Child Support Guidelines and Additional Support Above and Beyond The Guidelines

    ByChris A. Spofford

    Child Support Guidelines Guidelines for ensuring proper child support Generally, child support is owed by the parent who does not have primary custody, the non-possessory parent (who is also called the obligor), to the possessory parent who does have primary custody (also called the the obligee). The amount of child support owed is determined by guidelines that apply a statutory percentage to the obligor’s net resources (gross income, less social security taxes and the federal income tax withholding for a single person claiming one personal exemption and the standard deduction). Tex. Fam. Code § 154.061 The easiest way to estimate an obligor’s net resources is to review the tax charts published by the Office of the Attorney General of Texas. Child support guidelines are designed to apply to situations in which the obligor’s monthly net resources are not greater than $7,500 or the…

  • Child Custody Changes in the 85th Texas Legislature

    ByChris A. Spofford

    The Texas Legislature closed the 2017 session on May 29. Several laws were passed that affect Texas Family Law. Here is one small – yet important – child custody change in the statute that governs modification of an order for the Conservatorship, Support, or Possession and Access to a Child. Temporary Orders in a Suit to Modify Primary Conservatorship What the new language states is that – in cases where no parent has been granted the exclusive right to determine the child’s primary residence (primary conservatorship) – a court may not create a temporary order that has the effect of granting one parent this exclusive right. And also, no temporary order may be created that has the effect of changing or eliminating the geographic area within which a parent must maintain the child’s primary…

  • Child Custody Evaluation: Changes to Texas Family Law

    ByChris A. Spofford

    Texas Family Law Changes in the 85th Texas Legislature The Texas Legislature closed its biannual session for 2017. Although a Special Session may be called by Governor Abbott, it will not affect any Family Law issues. The Legislature did pass several bills that impact Texas Family Law. Here is one. Child Custody Evaluation The statute dealing with Child Custody Evaluations was revised this year. A significant change now offers more protection to child custody evaluators from being liable for civil damages arising out of the evaluator’s actions, recommendations made or opinion given in their capacity as a child custody evaluator. These protections have been in place for a guardian ad litem, attorney ad litem, and amicus attorneys for some time now. Finally those protections have been extended to…