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Special Needs Children in a Divorce.

Posted by Chris Peterson | Aug 05, 2015 | 0 Comments

Special Needs Children in a Divorce

Special Needs Children in a DivorceDivorce is very hard on children, even when there is not a high degree of contentiousness between the parents. For special needs children, the trauma is generally much greater, and it is incumbent upon divorcing parents to work with each other. A College Station divorce attorney can help you find resources to help you with your special needs child in the transition to divorce.

Raising a Special Needs Child is a Collaborative Effort

Parents of special needs children know that the physical, emotion and mental difficulties such children may possess requires the need for many individuals, both family and professionals. A special needs child will need the emotional support of parents, grandparents and siblings, along with some of the following:

  • Medical Specialists
  • Psychiatrists and psychologists
  • Physical and occupational therapists
  • Teachers
  • Counselors

Providing Accommodations for Special Needs Children

When a marriage is ending, the above mentioned relationships are still necessary. Indeed, they will be all the more important. Given that the most significant relationship children have is with their parents, it is necessary for divorcing couples to work hard to put aside their differences in order to work out a plan for child custody and visitation that will best suit the special needs child. This necessitates an honest assessment of each parent's ability to provide, and the accommodations they can offer:

  • Will the special needs child be able to adapt to having more than one residence?
  • Does the work schedule of one parent make it difficult for him to take the child to necessary medical and therapy sessions?
  • Does one parent's home better provide the accommodations, such as wheelchair accessibility, the special needs child must have?

Determining Child Support

The child support needs of a special needs child can be much greater than those of other children. The following expenses need to be considered:

  • Cost of ongoing physical, speech and other therapies
  • Counseling expenses
  • Cost of continuing medications
  • Cost of medical treatment, such as surgeries
  • Tutoring costs
  • Cost of specialized school and/or extracurricular activities

In some cases divorcing couples may be ordered by the court to work with a co-parenting counselor who can help them learn to put the special needs child's interests first, and strategies for helping the child adapt to a divorce. It is important to remember that special needs children tend to find comfort in routine, so a major disruption in their lives like divorce can be very difficult for them.

Call Us for Assistance with Developing a Child Support Plan

It is very important for a divorcing couple to put aside their differences and make sure that a special needs child suffers as little as possible from the separation. A College Station divorce attorney can help with developing a plan for accommodating the child after divorce. Call Peterson Law Group today at 979-703-7014 or 936-337-4681.

About the Author

Chris Peterson

Chris Peterson is the owner of Peterson Law Group. He practices primarily in the areas of wills, trusts and estate planning; probate and trust administration; elder law; and business law. Chris is also the owner of Brazos 1031 Exchange Company.

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