Fargo Family Law Blog

Parents are not the only adults that play an important role in a child's life-their teachers, aunts and uncles and grandparents shape a child's life in vital ways and their significance cannot be overlooked. But this is often precisely what happens when a divorce takes place-parents either share or split joint and legal custody, and the remainder of the family and friends often have to chose sides that affect how many times they can visit children, if at all.

Grandparent's rights are often sacrificed in a divorce, which means the essential bond they share with grandkids is broken at the time when children are going through a turbulent time and need someone other than their parents to confide in. in North Dakota, the right of grandchildren to visit their grandchildren is recognized.

Though North Dakota residents may believe the new year starts in January, the reality is that it starts in September for their school-going children. New teachers, new classes and friends, new schedules and new clothes-all items that help kids transition into their new year. Its difficult enough managing this transition when there is one household-two households only add to the confusion. However, planning ahead and clarifying intentions on how to get through the school year can ease the path for everyone involved.

The Marital Settlement Agreement likely covered the important ticket items, such as food, clothes and shelter when it came to child support payments, but every new year generally brings with it new, unforeseen expenses. Questions such as who will pay for child care when one of the kids is sick or when there is an event such as homecoming are those that need to be addressed at the beginning of the term when there are calm heads prevailing, rather than when the payment deadline is approaching and everyone is more likely to begin arguing. Some might find dividing the additional expenses equally works for them, while others may prefer dividing the items on which expenses might add up.

Whether you've been married for only a year or two, or have been with your spouse for a decade or more, you've likely encountered challenges in your relationship. Some problems are naturally more easily resolvable than others are. For instance, as newlyweds, you may have had to learn to compromise about minor issues, such whether or not to sleep with a fan on or how much money to spend on groceries per week.

Other marital problems are not only more serious, but may lead to divorce when North Dakota spouses can't come to an agreement or get past their feelings of hurt or betrayal. If you're considering divorce or have already filed papers, you'll need a strong support system to help you rebound and build a new future.

One of the first things you may have done after getting married - or maybe even before you married - was to open a joint checking account. After that, you probably bought some furniture, a car and maybe even a house. If you have children together, those little ones solidified your bond even more. However, those many things in common may not have solidified your relationship.

If you and your spouse are moving toward divorce, you may be weighing your options. Beyond traditional litigated divorce, you can choose alternative dispute resolution. There are pros and cons to the different methods of divorce, and you may have heard the many benefits of mediation. More North Dakota couples are reaching satisfying divorce settlements through mediation. However, this method is not best for everyone.