Article from Offit Kurman: Reasons to Work Towards Effective Co-Parenting

3/22/17

By Linda Ostovitz, Esq., Offit Kurman, Attorney At Law

When a marriage ends, parties cease being husband and wife. However, when that couple has children, they never cease being Mom and Dad. Even incompatible spouses can be good parents if you recognize that no matter your feelings, you must put your children first. Co-parenting is a step in the right direction.

Children Need Both Parents

Divorce is often difficult for children to navigate. Barring abuse, children need both parents in their lives. Your child will prosper and thrive with the assurance that the end of the marriage is not his/her fault, and that both parents are readily available and accessible.

Knowing what to expect next, will give your child a sense of security and control. As you work on putting the pieces together, know that your child may have some questions as well, including:

Who will I live with?

When will I see my ‘other’ parent?

Will I be able to see my friends?

What will happen to my house?

Where will I attend school?

Can I still do my after school activities?

The more parents communicate and work together, the better the outcome.

Recognizing Stress

Going through a divorce is a stressful time for everyone involved. When parents aren’t able to come to a place of agreement on co-parenting, they can quickly transfer that stress to their children. Stress and anxiety may show themselves in many ways such as poor academic performance, lack of sleep, a return to bed wetting, acting out, nervous ticks and other behavioral problems. Ultimately, these kinds of issues can lead to poor self-esteem and a need for professional intervention. Being able to work together can alleviate much of the stress for you and your child.

Sharing Important Information

Unless a court determines otherwise, it is vital for both parents to have access to important information. Both parents should know where the children go to school; who their doctors are; what activities they participate in and more. If one parent doesn’t willingly share this information, it can create tension and mistrust.

Dealing with a divorce under the best of circumstances is tough for children. Effective co-parenting recognizes their needs and makes them a priority. When parents can work together, even when they are apart, it is the best circumstance for your children.

If you are considering divorce and need the assistance of an experienced lawyer to help you work through some of these issues, then please contact Linda Sorg Ostovitz at lostovitz@offitkurman.com or telephone (301) 575-0381.

ABOUT LINDA SORG OSTOVITZ

Linda Ostovitz Headshot 1- SmallLinda Sorg Ostovitz is a family law attorney. Her legal experience spans more than 34 years. In this time, she has served as a leader, educator and advocate. Mrs. Ostovitz holds a prestigious fellowship in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Currently, she serves as President for the Business Women’s Network of Howard County, by which she was chosen Woman of Distinction for 2014. Mrs. Ostovitz represents clients in Howard, Anne Arundel, Carroll and Baltimore Counties. Her practice focuses exclusively on divorce litigation and mediation, child custody and access, child support, alimony, business valuation, as well as property and asset distribution. In addition to providing legal representation in court, Mrs. Ostovitz provides mediation services to help families come to a fair and legally-sound conclusion outside of the traditional court proceedings.

ABOUT OFFIT KURMAN

Offit Kurman is one of the fastest-growing, full-service law firms in the Mid-Atlantic region. With over 135 attorneys offering a comprehensive range of services in virtually every legal category, the firm is well positioned to meet the needs of dynamic businesses and the people who own and operate them. Our eleven offices serve individual and corporate clients in the Virginia, Washington, DC, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York City. At Offit Kurman, we are our clients’ most trusted legal advisors, professionals who help maximize and protect business value and personal wealth. In every interaction, we consistently maintain our clients’ confidence by remaining focused on furthering their objectives and achieving their goals in an efficient manner. Trust, knowledge, confidence—in a partner, that’s perfect.

You can connect with Offit Kurman via our Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube, and LinkedIn pages. You can also sign up to receive Law Matters, Offit Kurman’s monthly newsletter covering a diverse selection of legal and corporate thought leadership content.

MARYLAND | PENNSYLVANIA | VIRGINIA| NEW JERSEY | NEW YORK | DELAWARE | WASHINGTON, DC

Recent Deals

Interested in advertising your deals? Contact Edwin Warfield.