Kennedy Law Associates' Blog

One of the biggest concerns of divorced parents in North Carolina is how to continue providing their children with a positive parenting experience even after the split. While breaking up and divorcing is a very emotionally tense period that affects both parents and kids, choosing to positively co-parent after splitting up has benefits for both children and parents.

For the children, co-parenting provides the sense of security that is often lost once their parents divorce. Because co-parenting allows children to continue developing their relationship with both parents, children learn to understand that while their parents might not be together anymore, they can still find love and support in both parents. This is necessary for positive growth for children. It also helps children continue to behave positively because the outcome of a divorce where one parent has primary child custody sometimes leads to children reacting and exhibiting negative behavior issues as a result.

Couples in North Carolina who choose the most convenient day for their wedding might fare better than those who insist on getting married only on a special date, such as Valentine's Day. A study by researchers in Australia found a correlation between some wedding dates and a higher possibility of divorce.

According to the researchers at the University of Melbourne, who examined data on one million marriages, Valentine's Day was the wedding day that resulted in the most divorces. For the February 14 marriages, more than 10% ended after five years and more than 20% were over after nine years.

Divorce is never an easy process, even when both parties remain committed to working together amicably. In order to resolve divorce disputes and reach a reasonable resolution to disputes, some couples turn to specific methods to help them through this process. Mediation is a way for you and your spouse to go through divorce without ever stepping foot inside a courtroom.

If you want to keep more control over your divorce, this may be the right option for you. Mediation is a problem-solving process, so you and your spouse will have the opportunity to work through disputes in a respectful, reasonable manner. In many cases, this is a smart way that North Carolina couples can ease the strain and stress associated with divorce. 

There are many different child custody arrangements that can work for North Carolina families after the parents decide to divorce or separate. While many years ago, joint physical custody was unusual, it is now favored by many family courts as an ideal solution absent an environment of neglect or abuse. However, for others, one parent having primary physical custody may be the better solution, even when both parents are actively involved in their children's lives. For example, some parents may struggle with physical custody if they regularly have to travel on business trips, face deployment, or work odd hours or lengthy shifts.

At the same time, being a non-custodial parent does not mean being an inactive parent. Many non-custodial parents have extensive visitation rights and regularly see their children for extended visits. They also pay child support, critical to the well-being of the children. In many cases, parents who do not share physical custody may share legal custody, giving them an equal voice in important decisions about the child's health care, education, or religious upbringing. Non-custodial parents can maintain an active, loving relationship with their children, even if they are physically separated by work or other obligations.