Divorce often puts teenagers in a rough spot regardless of whether the divorce was amicable. It’s a significant change for them in a period of their life that is already full of changes and problems. In some cases, a child may even refuse to see one of the parents, which can put a major strain on your co-parenting. There are a few things you can do before contacting child custody lawyers in Caldwell, TX, but be sure to document these efforts in case things escalate to needing legal intervention.
Address the Reasons Why
Your first step is to figure out why your teenager no longer wants to spend time with their other parent. Remember that your teen is going through a tough time and might not be open to sharing with you their reasoning. Be patient and reassure them they can tell you without getting into trouble. Reasons they may want to go low- or no-contact can be the following:
- Their relationship with the other parents has become strained. Sometimes, this happens simply due to the change in family dynamic; other times, it’s because the teen has found out something about the divorce they may not understand or be okay with.
- They’re facing abuse or manipulation by the other parent. This serious issue requires contacting the appropriate authorities and child custody attorneys in Caldwell, TX, immediately.
- Your teenager simply wants to have their personal time back. This issue can be especially true if the other parent only has time with your teen on weekends. Sometimes, your teenager wants to hang out with their friends and not feel obligated to spend the entire weekend with their parent just because they don’t see them throughout the week. Compromises and understandings can hopefully be made.
You should do your best to resolve these conflicts between yourself, your teenager, and your ex-partner. Mediation and family therapy can be excellent tools, but if you can’t come to an agreement or there’s abuse involved, seek legal help from child custody attorneys in Caldwell, TX. They will help you come to a custody agreement or seek an order of protection for your child.
Contact Key Law Office for child custody attorneys in Caldwell, TX.
