5 Tips For South Carolina Divorce & Child Custody Proceedings
Going through a divorce is never easy, but it can be particularly challenging when children are involved. In addition to disputes you and your soon to be former spouse may have over the division of marital property, assets, and debts, there are likely to be serious concerns you have regarding the amount of time you get to spend with your child as the result of custody arrangements. Our Aiken divorce attorney is here to guide you throughout this process, making sure your rights and the best interests of your child are protected. The following are tips designed to help make this process a little easier.
Tips to Help You in Your Divorce and Child Custody Case
Just because you and your spouse had serious disagreements which led to the breakup of your marriage, it does not mean that these issues have to spill over into divorce proceedings. Accepting what happened does not mean forgiving your spouse. It does mean not letting disputes stand in the way of resolving issues in the most efficient and effective manner possible.
Psychology Today offers these five tips to help in divorce and child custody negotiations:
1. Avoid making disagreements personal. Realize that you and your spouse are likely to not see eye to eye on important issues surrounding your divorce. When disagreements do arise, try not to take them personally. Agree to disagree.
2. Pick your battles wisely. Pointless power struggles can extend the amount of time it takes to get a divorce, and can add up your court costs and attorney’s fees as well. Realize that while it is important to stand your ground in certain areas, there will be things you have to negotiate on.
3. Resist old patterns of behavior. While certain attitudes and patterns of behavior may have pervaded your marriage, be ready and willing to turn the page during your divorce. Avoid blaming or taking actions out of spite, which will likely only backfire in terms of getting what you need in a settlement.
4. Be clear in agreements. Under the South Carolina Code, you will be required to submit a parenting plan outlining visits with your child over weekends, school breaks, holidays, and other special occasions. This should include plans for transportation and pickup/drop off times and locations. It should also include provisions for when unexpected events occur, and the consequences for not following through on these arrangements.
5. Realize progress is not likely to happen overnight. Some couples are able to become friendly with one another and rebuild a level of trust over the course of their divorce, but this generally takes time. In the meantime, run everything through your attorney first before taking actions or making agreements which could hurt you in the long run.
Contact Us Today for Help
Arrangements made during your divorce and in child custody proceedings have the potential to impact you for years to come. Get the aggressive legal guidance and protection you need in these situations and call or contact the Surasky Law Firm, LLC online to request a consultation today.
