Make extra effort to prevent child-custody confrontations

Mathew B. Tully

Air Force Times

The stress of more than seven years of war has led to many military divorces — and many of these divorces involve children. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that the stressful times will pass when “it’s all over” — when your divorce or separation is final. If you have children, you’ll have a lifelong connection to your child’s other parent that extends beyond child support payments, even if your divorce or separation is “final.” Many preventable post-divorce legal issues arise if the parents do not or cannot co-parent properly.

Let me begin by making a nonlegal point. Your children are watching and listening to what the two of you do and say to each other. While it may be extremely difficult, it is absolutely essential to remain civil with each other, at a minimum, in the presence of the children. Everything from the tone of your voice to your facial expressions and body language can trigger emotional turmoil for a child that could last a lifetime.

Source: http://www.airforcetimes.com/community/ask_lawyer/military_askthelawyer_042209w/