What is Good Divorce Week?
Good Divorce Week 2018 (26 November onwards) is promoted by an organisation of family lawyers, Resolution, to help reduce conflict in divorce.
What does Resolution hope to achieve with Good Divorce Week?
Resolution wants to highlight the damage caused to children by conflict in divorce. Research has shown it’s not the separation or divorce itself but the conflict arising during the process.
But isn’t conflict inevitable?
No, not if parents remain amicable and communicate calmly and effectively with each other and the children. But sadly conflict does indeed often arise because parents have to rely on “fault” when they divorce for example unreasonable behaviour or adultery. Resolution has discovered that almost three quarters of the population agree that No Fault Divorce would protect the long-term interests of children.
How can parents avoid harm to children?
It is without doubt possible to minimise damage to children and statistics show that half of divorcing parents successfully put their children’s needs first. Furthermore eighty two percent of children in a Resolution survey said they would prefer their parents to part if they were unhappy. Children do not want to live in conflict and uncertainty any more than grown ups.
To bring the marriage to a positive but final end collaborative law and mediation are recommended. Collaborative law is a particularly effective way to reduce conflict and promote the best interests of the family as a whole.
Read my blog 8 Tips on Arrangements for Children after Separation
There are even apps out there to help you co-parent.
Is divorce bad for Children?
Sadly it can be. In surveys children report:
- they felt left out of the process
- had no say where they lived
- felt they had to choose between parents
- had no understanding what was going on
- felt it was all their fault
- didn’t get good exam results as a result
- got into trouble at school
- drank alcohol and considered taking drugs
How about parental alienation?
Yes, there’s that too:
- a third of children report one parent tried to turn them against the other parent
- almost a fifth said they lost touch with their grandparents.
If you are a grandparent in this heartbreaking situation please see my blog Do Grandparents Have Rights? Practical Steps to Seeing Your Grandchildren Again
What’s the answer?
Parents must put their children’s needs first and try their best to avoid conflict. Collaborative law could be the way forward for you.
How can we have a good divorce?
The answer is No Fault Divorce. If blame were removed from the divorce process it would undoubtedly make it easier for parents to remain amicable.
What is no fault divorce?
The Government is currently considering whether divorce should simply be on the ground of irretrievable breakdown with no need to mention reasons. See my blog No Fault Divorce – Your Questions Answered
I support no fault divorce, what can I do?
If you would like to join Resolution’s campaign follow this link to:
- write to your MP
- mug up on all the facts and figures
- use your social media profile to help
Good divorce week – is divorce bad for children?
Contact Joanne Houston on 01962 217640 for free advice on any of the issues raised in this blog. In this 20 minute session we will review your situation and how you can achieve your objectives.
JUST FAMILY LAW are specialist divorce and family law solicitors offering personalised legal solutions. We offer collaborative law which is especially relevant in providing solutions tailored to your family’s needs. This includes same sex couples and their families. Visit our website just-family-law.com The topics covered in this blog post are complex and are provided for general guidance only. Therefore if any of the circumstances mentioned in this blog have application to you, seek expert legal advice.
image Felicidade A Very Happy Boy by Luis Miguel Bugallo Sánchez on Wikimedia
