Through the Eyes of a Child: Impact and Measures to Protect Children in High-conflict Family Law Litigation

Having a long, bitter legal battle about children is really bad for everyone involved, especially the kids. It can make parents and even adult children really upset and stressed out. This article talks about how parents need to work together for the kids’ sake, and how fighting in court can hurt the kids. It also offers a different way to work things out, called parent coordination. Parents have a duty to encourage their kids to have a good relationship with the other parent. In a court case, the mother was ordered to make an effort to help her kids have a good relationship with their father. This didn’t mean she had to say things she didn’t believe, but it did mean she had to do things to help the kids spend time with their dad. The court found that the state has a big interest in making sure kids have a good relationship with both their parents. This means the mom can’t do or say things that could hurt the kids’ relationship with their dad. If she does, she could be in trouble with the court. This is often included in agreements or plans made by parents when they split up. The two parties in the Levy case had a very contentious and angry legal battle. The court found that the former wife broke the agreement and was found in contempt. Even though the appeals court agreed with this decision, they didn’t mention exactly what the former wife did wrong. They just said that the agreement was clear and followed previous legal cases. The court also said that a rule about not exposing the children to the father’s anger was too vague to enforce.

Sometimes, the Department of Children and Families gets involved in cases where parents are fighting during a divorce and it seems like it’s hurting the child. In some cases, the court has said that the department didn’t prove that the child was being abused, abandoned, or neglected.

The court can’t decide on what’s best for the child without considering if the child is actually being abused, abandoned, or neglected. It’s also important to note that in the cases where there was an appeal, the parents were no longer living together and the child wasn’t in immediate danger. We’ll have to wait and see if courts in the future decide that a child being upset because of their parents’ legal battles can be considered abuse. High-conflict divorce can have a big impact on kids. It can lead to more emotional and behavioral problems for children, especially boys. Boys in single-mother households are especially at risk for acting out behavior. Girls may not be as affected, especially if their mother doesn’t remarry. It’s important for parents to try to minimize conflict for their children’s well-being. When parents argue a lot or get divorced, it can really hurt kids, especially as they get older. Girls might start to act out and make risky choices, and both boys and girls can struggle with their own relationships later on. To help families work through these issues without going to court, a parent coordinator can step in to help make plans for the kids. This person can’t make decisions for the family, but they can give advice and keep things private. They can also speak up if they think someone is in danger. When parents are going through a tough divorce, it can really hurt the kids. It’s important for parents to work together and not fight in front of the kids. If they can’t agree, a person called a parent coordinator can help them figure things out. This can make things better for the kids. The court needs to be tough on parents who act out and cause problems for their kids during and after a divorce. The judge made the right decision, and I hope other lawyers will support the court’s orders to protect the children, even if their clients are mad about it. It’s important for everyone to work together and not get caught up in the fighting. This column is about family law in Florida. It includes references to specific statutes and court cases. The author is a lawyer who is involved in various legal organizations. The column was reviewed by a psychologist for input on psychological issues. It was submitted by the Family Law Section.

Source: https://www.floridabar.org/the-florida-bar-journal/through-the-eyes-of-a-child-impact-and-measures-to-protect-children-in-high-conflict-family-law-litigation/