Connecticut Family Law Blog

The most difficult decision parents going through divorce face is determining the custody arrangement for their children. Houses can be sold, cars can be replaced, new marriages may follow, but the children are irreplaceable. Parents need to know what their options are before they can make the best decision for their children. There are several different child custody options utilized in Connecticut.

The first thing to remember when exploring the different child custody options is that the court has to make the final decision, and the court will do whatever it feels is in the best interest of the children. Normally, courts feel it is best if both parents are still significantly involved in the child's life. This type of arrangement is called joint custody and is broken down into two parts: legal custody and physical custody. In joint custody both parents will have some percentage of time spent with the child and some level of control over the major decisions in the child's life. The court will determine these percentages if the parents cannot come to an agreement about it on their own.

Prenuptial agreements don't have the stigma attached to them that they used to have. In fact, these contracts, which are under the family law umbrella in Connecticut, can actually serve to make a marriage happier. All couples who tie the knot believe that they have found their lifelong partners. That's not always the case, however, so a prenuptial agreement is a safeguard for the "what if it doesn't work out" of marriage and doesn't have to be a romance wrecker. 

These documents are even more necessary when the couple is getting hitched for the second or more time and important when children are a part of the relationship. In most instances, a prenuptial agreement protects the assets of each person prior to them entering into marriage. And if one partner stands to lose more in the event of a divorce, a prenup can offer certain protections.

Nearly all people who enter into a new relationship bring baggage with them -- figuratively as well as literally. Some issues that persist in a marriage and continue to rear their ugly heads every time a Connecticut couple has a disagreement pave the way for an unwanted trip to divorce court. Experts say that there are certain things some couples can't seem to rectify and knowing what those are may help to create positive communication, so they don't become a problem in the relationship.

Couples who are parents may be at odds as to who should be the authoritarian figure to the kids. Who does the disciplining? They may be at odds as to who is the fun one and who sends the kids for a timeout. Compromise is key in these situations, according to experts. Parents who take turns being the 'meanie' with their kids may find this ultimately becomes a nonissue for them.

Divorce is a trying time for everyone involved. Many times, parents become so focused on protecting their children that they overlook other issues. The truth is that you should prioritize your children, but you also need to protect yourself in a divorce. All too often, one spouse makes moves early in the divorce process to take advantage of the other.

One common practice is the attempt to hide assets from the other spouse and the courts. While hidden assets may not seem like a major deal, they can have a drastic impact on the overall fairness of your divorce proceedings. After all, the courts can only divide the assets they know about. In other words, when your spouse hides assets from you, you end up getting the short end of the stick in the asset division process.