Nelson & Booth| Child Custody, Parenting Time & Visitation

Nelson & Booth
attorneys at law

My friends tell me . . . Is it true?

Well-meaning friends and associates will no doubt offer you advice about your case – what you can do or should do, what you should file, how best to “protect” yourself, how to get the most from your spouse in your divorce, how much or little of the property you will get, how much or whether you will receive or have to pay alimony, how much they pay or receive in child support, what happened to them in their divorce and all manner of other similar advice.

Our advice? Don’t listen to it -- and don’t expect that your case will be anything like their case or that the results in your case will be anything like those related to you by your friends or family.

Frequently, the advice of friends and relatives is not accurate and sometimes it is simply dangerous. Accordingly, you should be very cautious in following it.

The facts surrounding your situation, your marriage, your children and your life are unique and the advice needed, as well as the way in which it is handled and decided, will differ from every other case. Friends may be able help you with the personal and emotional crisises that arise because of your domestic relations case, but you should leave the legal advice to your attorneys.

Proceedings regarding the breakup of a relationship, the division of property and issues surrounding the time each parent has with their children are very emotional – even if there are few disputes between the parties. Sometimes one parent will try to use the children in an attempt to punish the other parent. Sometimes you or your partner will encounter emotional and psychological crisis because of the breakup and will react unexpectedly and violently.

Prepare yourself and your children for any matter involving them without poisoning your children’s minds about the other parent. There are many good books available to help both you and your children through the process and through this change in your lives. Obtain professional help if possible. Attempt to cooperate with your partner where the children are concerned.

It is in your best interest to come to a fair and equitable resolution of the issues in your case and a reasonable agreement concerning all the issues that have to be decided – whether that is the divorce itself, division of property and debt, determination of spousal or child support, or child custody, visitation and parenting time issues with children.

Emotional “blackmail” or a desire for revenge for past or present transgressions can cloud the issues and almost always results in increased legal fees. Discuss support and division of property items with your spouse, if possible. Try to be fair.

NELSON & BOOTH is a law firm engaged in a family law practice emphasizing complex domestic relations actions, including divorce and determination of parentage, property division, child custody, parenting time, spousal and child support and representation of parents in cases of international child abduction.

The attorneys at NELSON & BOOTH are licensed to practice only in the
states of Kansas or Missouri.

E-mail: Ronald W. Nelson or Joseph W. Booth

nelson & booth

attorneys at law

Last updated 3/9/2007