When You Are Going Through a Divorce with a Handicapped Child
Divorce is a difficult time in anyone’s life. This can be aggravated by many outside factors, especially when your divorce is not like others. Your divorce might be different from other divorces if you have a handicapped child. Children with mental or physical disabilities have special needs from both parents, which means that you and your spouse will have a variety of other aspects to consider, adding layers into your case. You will have to carefully consider many aspects alongside your spouse that are in the best interests of your child at this time.
Many Determinations to be Made
One of the first factors that will have to be considered is custody and visitation, which can be a complicated manner when you have a disabled child. Courts will look at the best interest of the child as with any case, but disabilities in a child could add unique needs, which means that you and the other spouse will have to sit down and discuss the custody arrangement that works for everybody involved. Providing a consistent routine for your disabled child is one of the best things that you can do, as well as considering many other aspects like how your child will be moved back and forth between both parent’s homes.
You and your spouse will also have to consider future factors for your child, such as who will take care of your child in the future when they become an adult. Your child might need a permanent caretaker depending on their health at an older age, especially if they are not able to do many things on their own. There needs to be an appointed adult who will help them on a day-to-day basis, whether it is a professional or whether they will be living with you or your spouse in the future.
In many cases, your child’s benefits might also come into play. Your child might be receiving government benefits of some kind since they have a disability, which means that parents will have to discuss how much the custodial parent receives in child support and alimony. The government might adjust how much the child receives in benefits after these determinations, which might make many aspects more difficult for you to tackle on your own.
By looking at many of these points from a different perspective as you get further and further into the steps of your divorce, you will find out what works for your family and what doesn’t. You need a trusted attorney on your side through this process. We are here for you at this time, so do not hesitate to call us.