Some experts are concluding that divorce is neither good nor bad. Allen Li, associate director of the Population Research Center at the RAND Corporation in Santa Monica, California, says it depends on the individual marriages and the family.

Though Li’s findings contrast with a lot of research on the effects divorce has on children. Some argue that Li is controlling so many things in his study that he is literally causing the effects of divorce to disappear.

I just read an interesting op-ed piece in the Boston Globe about shared parenting in MA.

Divorcemag makes a good case about the effects of fatherless homes and the lack of a father figure in a child’s life.

According to their findings, fatherless homes account for:
-63 percent of youth suicides
-90 percent of homeless/runaway children
-85 percent of children with behavior problems
-71 percent of high school dropouts, 85 percent of youths in prison

In conclusion, research shows that children in joint custody arrangements have less behavioral problems and fare better overall.

A study conducted by the University of Alberta found that divorce does not change parenting behavior. And that there are more similarities than differences in parenting between recently divorced couples and those that are married.

What is the long term affect of divorce on parenting over the course of a child’s upbringing? If a parent has been separated for a number of years, do their parenting skills deteriorate throughout the post divorce period of raising that child?

In an article by the UK’s TimesOnline.com, author Simon Baker relates his own divorce story woes and how he turned them around to make the best of the situation. In this article, he gives some helpful hints that he discovered along the way that can also be found in his book, How to be a Great Divorced Dad.

In an effort to strengthen fathers’ roles in their families, Garfield County, CO has created a service program to address this very issue. Named The Family Connection/Responsible Fathers program, it will provide several useful services to better educate dads, including parenting classes, mediation, job search assistance, and referrals to agencies providing substance abuse, domestic violence and mental health treatment.

As this Colorado community enlists state funds to support co-parenting, should more states follow suit to help families of divorced couples?

Parenting coordinators are a child-focused method of alternative dispute resolution used in high conflict child custody cases.

A parenting coordinator is a neutral third-party brought into custody cases to reduce the level of conflict by helping the parents make better decisions concerning the parenting of their children.

Rosen Law Firm’s recent article on Parenting Coordinators is very imformative.

To learn more click here.

Parents Without Partners, and online forum for single parents, recently published an article by Brette McWhorter about how single parents can help keep summer fun, even in the shadow of a divorce. The tips include:

Keep summer vacation fun
Plan around your given custody time
Welcome your child’s friends
Make other plans for your child when you are busy
Think of things you might want to do when your child is away
Remember what it is like to be a kid
And finally…RELAX

Kids love having a break from school so I think the most important thing to remember is that it’s supposed to be fun. However, being a single parent does take a bit more planning.

Earthquake in Zipland is an interesting game that helps children cope with their parents’ divorce. It’s the first research-based computer game aimed to help children of divorce and/or separation cope with their new life. This is especially great for parents to play with their children.

More divorced parents are using on-line tools to help share the role of raising their children, like Google Calendar or Ourfamilywizard.These tools feature e-scheduling and an events calendar so parents can better organize visitation and be more active in their children’s lives. Kids are also more involved too, because they can go on-line and see where they’re going to be this week and which parent is attending their soccer game.

Several states are passing laws that would give automatic joint custody to divorced couples, assuming they are fit.  I first thought that Wisconsin was different, but now South Dakota is trying to pass a similar legislation. Will this complicate child custody arrangements or strengthen relationships with parents and their kids?

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Kramer Vs. is supported by Rosen Law Firm as a service to the media and others interested on the latest news on divorce and family issues.

Rep. Leslie Mortimer, R-Horton of Michigan has introduced a bill that would help child support efforts. If the bill passes,  The Child Custody Act of 1970 would be amended creating a presumption that when two parents divorce they automatically get joint custody of the child.

A new legislation recently passed in Italy making joint custody the norm when parents split. This new law helps to strengthen custody rights of divorced fathers.  Some say this law establishes the principle of co-parenting, forcing each parent to be responsible for the child.

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Kramer Vs. is supported by Rosen Law Firm as a service to the media and others interested on the latest news on divorce and family issues.

More couples are finding ways to make divorce less damaging to kids.  Here’s an interesting article that recently ran in the New York Times.

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Kramer Vs. is supported by Rosen Law Firm as a service to the media and others interested on the latest news on divorce and family issues.

In North Carolina, the new parenting coordinator law goes into effect tomorrow, October 1. High conflict custody cases often require more people to insure the children’s best needs are being met.

Under the new parenting coordinator law, the court can appoint a parenting coordinator at any time during the proceeding of a child custody case. The authority of the parent coordinator will include identifying disputed issues, minimizing misunderstandings, developing effective methods of collaboration in parenting, and clarifying priorities so the best interest of the child is first.

Here’s a link to the bill-Parenting Coordinator HB 1221

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Kramer Vs. is supported by Rosen Law Firm as a service to the media and others interested in news on divorce and family issues.

For many divorced couples, the relationship with their ex is far from a lingering romance. Yet, some face the challenge of  being just friends after the divorce.

Where do you draw the boundaries while maintaining a healthy relationship for the sake of the kids and for yourself? TIME magazine recently ran an article entitled, ‘We’re Divorced, No, Really‘, which cites Rosen Law Firm’s Life Transition Coach, Jennifer Coleman.

Comments? Send an email.
Kramer Vs. is supported by Rosen Law Firm as a service to the media and others interested in news on divorce and family issues.

National Family Day is celebrated nationwide today to promote parental engagement as a effective way to reduce substance abuse among youth. It’s also a way to raise healthier children overall. Yet, divorce experts say single parents and non-custodial parents can also effectively engage with their kids, although it can be more challenging.

"It’s definitely harder for single parents to juggle work and quality time with their kids, " says Jennifer Coleman, life transition coach with Rosen Law Firm. " But quality time together needs to be a priority for both single parents and non-custodial parents." Coleman also recommends non-custodial parents help children with their homework and sit down for dinner together, even if it’s the weekend. 

According to The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, children who eat dinner frequently with their families are less likely to engage in smoking, alcohol, and drugs.

Comments? Send an email.
Kramer Vs. is supported by Rosen Law Firm as a service to the media and others interested in news on divorce and family issues.