Special Considerations: Getting a Divorce When You Have a Special Needs Child - Collaborative Family Law Association of St. Louis

Collaborative Family Law Association

< Back to All Posts

Special Considerations: Getting a Divorce When You Have a Special Needs Child

CFLA Former Member

Getting divorced when you are the parent of a special needs or medically complex child can seem like a daunting task that could put an unbearable amount of additional stress on an already stressed-out family system.  Many couples with a special needs child make the default decision to stay in an unhappy marriage because the unique issues they face seem impossible to manage on their own or in separate households.

Co-Parenting Complexity

For all parents, one of the scariest parts of a divorce is the co-parenting plan.  When parents of special needs or medically complex children get divorced there are additional issues that may arise in the process. Some of these issues may include:

  • Medical and therapy appointments
  • Medication management
  • Special diet consideration
  • Behavior plans
  • Adaptive equipment
  • SSDI or respite funds
  • IEP and school issues
  • Transitions and travel planning
  • Guardianship when the child turns 18
  • Special needs trusts, ABLE accounts and 529s

Because of these and other unique circumstances associated with divorce when there is a special needs child it may be necessary to deviate from the standard parenting plan or child support formulas provided by the courts.  If this is the case, the collaborative divorce process is almost certainly the best route for the whole family. 

Consider a Flexible & Support Divorce Process

Collaborative divorces allow for flexibility and creativity that you are unlikely to find through the courts.  In a collaborative divorce you are not bound by standardized forms or one-size fits all protocols.   If you are raising a special needs child you already know that many people do not understand the additional time, energy and money you put into meeting your child’s needs.  If you have decided to move forward with a divorce you will need a team who understands the many complicated issues involved with ending your marriage while also preserving a safe and consistent environment for your child.

Dena Tranen, LCSW is a trained collaborative law professional, licensed clinical social worker and former member of CFLA. She works as a mental health coach, therapist, and co-parenting specialist. To learn more about your Missouri divorce process options give her a call today.

More Posts from this Author

March 23, 2018
5 Ways to Cope with Your Feelings During Divorce

When people think of springtime, they think of flowers, sunshine, warm weather, and fun times. School will let out in the next few months. Perhaps your neighbors are planning a summer getaway and a part of you is wishing you were enjoying life as much as they appear to be enjoying it. While it may […]

Read More
December 22, 2017
Divorce and Disappointment

Unfortunately, we all face disappointment at some point.  It is a part of life.  How you choose to deal with disappointment is what often matters most.  You will face many feelings during a divorce and disappointment is a common feeling that many people face. The Disappointment When you focus on the negative parts of a […]

Read More
July 27, 2017
Talking to Your Spouse About Separation and Divorce

You’re not happy in your marriage and haven’t been for quite some time.  You’re ready to tell your spouse how you feel and wonder how to do it.  How you begin this conversation can have an impact on whether your separation or divorce will be friendly and civil or ugly and contested.  There are a […]

Read More
May 30, 2017
The Collaborative Process is The Kumbaya Divorce

It is likely that you either have a friend or a family member who experienced a divorce and barely exchange their children without a fight.  You go through life saying that will never be your situation. Then you are sitting at the table having “that” conversation with your spouse. A divorce is now imminent.  How […]

Read More
April 10, 2017
Can We Both Use the Same Divorce Attorney?

This is a question many couples ask who are thinking about divorce.   There are many reasons why people want to use one attorney and usually, it comes down to finances.  How can we cut our costs of this divorce since attorneys are expensive,  how can we divorce and not get into a nasty court battle […]

Read More
December 14, 2016
How to Keep Your Children Out of the Middle of Your Divorce

Extensive research suggests that for children of divorce, what is most damaging is the experience of their parents fighting; how children adjust and fare after a divorce is closely linked to how their parents get along with each other. Those children whose parents are civil and demonstrate good faith towards one another are much more […]

Read More
November 8, 2016
What? You’re thinking about a divorce after how many years?

Arnold and Maria did it, Tipper and Al did it…. They got divorced after decades of marriage. It’s happening. The divorce rate for people between 55 and 64 doubled between 1990 and 2010. DOUBLED. And, it tripled for people 65 and over! (Bowling Green University Study) The kids are gone, the house is quiet, the […]

Read More
October 12, 2016
The Importance of Post Divorce Counseling

Post-divorce counseling must sound like an oxymoron. If you were going to go to counseling you would have gone while you were married to save the marriage, right? Post-divorce counseling isn’t about “saving” the relationship, rather, it is about the children (if any) and learning. Post-Divorce Counseling Helps You and the Children There are a […]

Read More
October 10, 2016
Why do we need a divorce coach? I already have a therapist.

Divorce is one of the most challenging and difficult times of one’s life – and in the midst of this emotional turmoil, people are required to make decisions that will permanently affect their future (and their children’s future). Trying to sort through all of the logistical, legal, financial, and parenting decisions that have to be […]

Read More
September 27, 2016
Divorce Podcast
Read More

St. Louis Collaborative Family Law Association

Divorce … A Different Way, A Better Way, With Integrity.
© Copyright 2022 - Collaborative Family Law Association - All Rights Reserved
crossmenuchevron-down linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram