Helping you cross the

legal finish line

Support for parents whose child is not coping well with divorce

No two Michigan families are exactly the same, but many can relate to each other because of experiences they have in common. For parents going through divorce, it’s especially helpful to build a strong support network from the start. If a child is struggling to cope to life changes prompted by divorce, a psychological assessment might help parents determine how best to provide support.

Legal custody is a term referring to the authority to make decisions regarding a child’s health, education, faith or other =life issue in divorce. It’s always best if parents agree on important decisions such as whether to seek a psychological assessment to learn more about how a particular child might be struggling. Many times, a clinical psychologist, school guidance counselor or other child advocate will recommend that parents seek such an evaluation.

A psychological assessment typically might include an interview with the child in question. An evaluator might also use questionnaires or testing that can help determine if a child, perhaps, has a learning disability or is suffering from emotional distress because of a family crisis or other issue. If co-parents can agree to cooperate as necessary, this form of assessment might lead them to answers about how to help their son or daughter resolve a learning disability or increase coping skills in a life-changing event such as divorce.

If Michigan parents disagree as to whether a child should have a psychological assessment or any other child custody issue, it can spark legal issues in a divorce. This is one of many reasons it pays to stay connected with an experienced family law attorney from the start. A lawyer can step in as needed to provide strong support to help a parent protect his or her rights and to make sure children’s best interests are a central focus of all proceedings.