Parents of special needs children are just like any other parent. This is true in that they love their children and would do anything for them. However, parents of special needs children have certain challenges that parents of non-special needs children do not have. This is because special needs children have certain requirements and need extra care and guidance in order to ensure that their needs are met.
This can make married parents of special needs children feel more hesitant to divorce. Unfortunately, every couples’ relationship is susceptible to failure, even parents of special needs children. These parents should be able to separate if that is what’s best for the relationship. They should know that their special needs child can be taken care of, even if the parents are living in separate households.
This is possible if a child custody arrangement is made in which the child’s best interests are put first. Oftentimes, this can be accomplished when parents of a special needs child embrace an amicable divorce. Amicable divorce involves much discussion and compromise, not long, drawn-out, acrimonious negotiations and court proceedings. If parents can communicate well, it can set the tone for the entire divorce process.
Amicable divorce is not always possible. Sometimes there is bad-blood between the parents. Other times, it may not be in a child’s best interest to have a shared custody arrangement for one reason or another. Whatever the scenario, the firm of Claudette-Jean Girard, Attorney at Law has represented clients’ points-of-view and specific needs. We recognize that the experience and requirements of a parent with a special needs child can be drastically different than needs of parents with non-special needs children.
