For many Washington residents, the New Year signifies a time for new beginnings and a time to make changes. In many cases, individuals may consider taking aspects of their lives with which they have struggled and finding ways to make the issues more manageable. For parents who are divorced, child custody may be an area in which they would like to see positive changes.
One resolution that many parents may be hoping to carry out is to listen to their children and ex-spouses more. This task can often be difficult because of underlying issues and emotions, but if parents are willing to openly communicate about custody schedules and potential modifications, tensions may be lessened. Of course, if legal modifications are requested, also discussing the situation with their legal counsel could be prudent.
Additionally, children may wish to voice their concerns and wishes as well. As they grow older, kids may prefer to live with one parent over the other. This desire could possibly seem hurtful to one parent or the other, but if parents listen, they may better understand why their children feel the way they do about the arrangements. Of course, decisions are often left up to the parents, and sincere consideration is often necessary before modifications are requested.
Though the New Year has already begun, it is not too late to revisit child custody agreements if there are continued issues. Parents may be able to work together to come to more agreeable terms or take other action to make the situation better suited for them. Discussing possible custody modifications with their legal counsel could help concerned Washington parents determine their best courses of action.
Source: The Huffington Post, “Top 10 Difficult New Year’s Resolutions for Divorced Parents“, Laurie Hollman, Dec. 24, 2015