Family Law Blog

Colorado Divorce: Special-Needs Children and Child Custody

By Denver Divorce Lawyer on April 13, 2011

Children with special needs should have their specific needs taken into account when creating a child custody and visitation plan during a divorce, as highlighted by a recent column on The Huffington Post.

The increase in divorce rates and in the number of children diagnosed with autism, attention deficit disorder, and other conditions means that more and more children will need their parents to consider their specific circumstances when making any major life changes, including divorce. Special-needs children, for instance, may have difficulty understanding that visitation with one parent is only temporary and that they will get to go home after a specified time. Although they may have the same fears and concerns about their parents’ divorce as any child their age, a child with autism or another disability may not be able to fully communicate them. A child with particular emotional or mental needs may react badly to finding themselves “in the middle” of their parents’ disputes, making it more important than ever to negotiate the terms of a separation apart from your relationship with your child.

Parents of special-needs children who are considering divorce would do well to contact an experienced Colorado divorce lawyer who understands that each family needs a plan for child custody, support, and visitation that works for every family member. The experienced family law attorneys at Kaplan Law, LLC examine each person’s case carefully and advocate for the best outcomes for both the adult and the children. If you are facing divorce in Colorado, call Kaplan Law, LLC today at 1-877-527-5260 to schedule a consultation.