Very few Alabama residents who sever their marital ties plan on attending regular outings with their former spouses. In another state, however, the law actually requires parents of minor children who divorce to take a parenting class together. For those who still get along fairly well with the other parent, this should pose no problem. However, what about those who can barely stand to be in the same room without arguing?

It’s no secret that parental divorce obviously impacts children. With support and appropriate guidance, many children successfully adapt to new lifestyles with minimal negative consequences. Other children have a more difficult time, sometimes due to one parent’s refusal to cooperate and compromise with the other.

These are the parents for whom post-divorce parenting classes may prove most beneficial. A woman who leads a divorced parents’ class in Oklahoma said such programs may help reduce the numbers of kids suffering from depression, behavioral regression and other negative symptoms common to children after divorce. She said her state’s program is designed to help parents learn to communicate in non-contentious manners as they move forward to post-divorce life with their children.

Not all divorce problems related to parenting can be resolved in a classroom. Some Alabama parents find that no matter how hard they try, they simply can’t achieve amicable outcomes to child-related issues with their former spouses. An experienced family law attorney can be a great asset in such situations. As a personal advocate, an attorney can protect parental rights and make sure children’s best interests remain a central focal point in all divorce proceedings.

Source: enidnews.com, “Extension course teaches parents to cooperate in divorce“, James Neal, May 3, 2017