Denver Family Lawyer Advises Divorcing Parents to Take Parental Education Classes

As a Denver family lawyer, I often hear divorcing couples lament, “I just wish this could be over!” 

Unfortunately, when there are children involved, it is never really over.  Unless one parent passes away or abandons his or her children, divorced couples with kids will need to deal with one another for many years to come. 

Raising children after a divorce will require a certain set of skills that most parents don’t have.  Even when dealing with an ex-spouse who has been unfaithful, unreliable, unemployed or unethical, maintaining a cooperative relationship with them is crucial to the children’s best interests.

Very often, a custody plan that was written when the children were very young will need to be adjusted as the children grow older.  Marital property will need to be sold.  Medical expenses must be discussed, especially if the children need special care.  All of these eventualities will require two parents who are willing to put aside their differences and consider what is best for their children. 

One of the best ways to ensure that you and your ex-spouse are able to work together as co-parents in the future is to take a class in parenting that is geared toward divorced parents. Learning to treat one another with mutual respect and maintain open lines of communication will keep you from going back to Colorado court after the divorce is final. 

Colorado courts often require parents who are involved in a custody battle to take parental education classes, which is part of the state’s recent Family Law and Policy Promoting Parenting Education.  Through the passage of this law, Colorado divorce laws have officially recognized the negative impact of divorce on children, and that the stress of a divorce can affect a child socially, emotionally, and academically,  thus, the need for co-parenting education to aid in the family’s transition.  The program is designed to educate parents about the divorce process, illustrate how it can impact children and adults, and teach co-parenting strategies and skills to promote cooperation between the parents.

If you are about to enter into a divorce in the Denver area where children are involved, a local Denver family lawyer can help you come to an agreement with your spouse about the best way to raise your children.  This can best be accomplished through mediation, which engenders a spirit of cooperation between the parents, but it may also require parents to take a class in post-divorce parenting.   The team at the Colorado law firm of Clawson & Clawson, LLP is experienced in all aspects of family law and can offer you a free consultation.