Children
Disagreements involving children are common during divorce. Often
couples are able to make arrangements for their children perfectly
amicably.
Unfortunately this is not always the case and issues of custody,
maintenance and visiting rights come into play. Sometimes one or both
parties use children to get at the other and in these cases court
involvement is unavoidable.
Courts prefer not to get involved in disputes with children. In many
instances couples have to meet with a Conciliation Officer to try and work
out an agreement without going to court. However it's not always preventable.
The court will always make decisions in the light of what it
sees to be in the best interests of the child.
Generally it is considered to be in the interests of the child to see both
parents regularly. But if a teenager is opposed to contact with one parent
it is unlikely that they will be forced to spend time with them. There is
no connection between whether maintenance is paid and whether contact is
allowed.
