At Bronzino Law Firm, we are not just here to address the legal issues in your specific case and move on. Our dedicated family law and divorce attorneys make a concerted effort to consider and advise our clients based on the emotional and psychological impact the divorce process can have on you and your children. Give us a call today at one of our convenient office locations in Brick or Sea Girt, NJ 732-812-3102 and let’s attack the issues together while building a family-life plan for a better future. You can also fill out a contact form and a member of our staff will be in touch to schedule a case evaluation in our office.
After you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse have made the decision to separate and divorce, the next big hurdle will be telling the kids. Getting your kids through the divorce in an emotionally healthy manner should be your shared objective. If you are lucky, your spouse will show the same interest in working with you to protect the kids as much as possible.
Here are some tips and agreeable action items that will help accomplish that goal:
Once you’re prepared to deliver the news to the kids, then what’s next is their reaction and response. Depending on their age(s) and personality type, your kids will feel a mixture of sad surprise, shock, worry, disappointment, fear and possibly even anger. After all, you both are letting them down –or at least, that’s how young adolescents and teens often first perceive divorce.
In other words, a little at a time is usually best. Their natural concern is how much this new family structure and lifestyle is going to affect them. Answer their questions as honestly as possible, keep it simple and load your replies with plenty of reassurance.
Of course, not all kids react or have any questions right away. So, you and your spouse must be ready to handle whatever comes. Whether your kids react or not, or if they don’t have much to say, let them know that you understand and that it is all right not to have anything to say. Whenever they do want to talk about it or have any questions or worries, you and their other parent will always want to know what they are thinking or worried about.
Some of the questions you might want to address with your spouse and be prepared to answer:
This will likely not be an easy conversation, especially if you and your co-parent may not know how you’ll be deciding many of the divorce decisions ahead yet. Be as truthful as you can and when you don’t know, say so; but reassure them that, one way or the other, you are working on the issues and that you will work it out.
At the Bronzino Law Firm we understand and take very seriously the role of a parent in their children’s lives, and the importance of a healthy a functional family unit no matter the number of households. Our attorneys have been providing family law solutions and build post-divorce life plans for clients in Wall, Brick, Sea Girt, Toms River, Pt Pleasant, Asbury Park and across Monmouth and Ocean County.
We strive to get through the process via mediation and collaboration, however, in some high-conflict situations, you may need a more aggressive approach. We are confident and aggressive litigators with an unwavering commitment to your interests, and we are thorough and effective when preparing cases for trial. Even in these circumstances, we will make every effort to avoid any undue stress on the child or children in the family.
To schedule a free and confidential consultation with our office today regarding your family law issue, contact us online or through either our Brick, NJ office or our Sea Girt, NJ office at 732-812-3102.