Divorce & Special Needs Children

Winter Park Divorce Lawyer with Decades of Experience

If you are getting a divorce and have a special needs child, your divorce may not fit the mold of a standard divorce. Your child probably has very specific needs, which must be adequately addressed by the respective lawyers and judge handling your case. At Richard A. Heller, P.A., our divorce attorneys in Winter Park have over 60 years of collective experience handling all types of divorce and child custody matters, including those involving children with autism and other disabilities.

We care deeply for each of our clients and their families and always seek to obtain a divorce settlement agreement that is in the best interests of their children. Because of our focus on client satisfaction, we have an A+ accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, a top Superb Rating from AVVO, and a Distinguished Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®.

Developing Parenting Plans in Divorce

Divorce is a highly emotional process for regular parents, but for parents with fragile children, it can be much more disconcerting. Statistically, a larger percentage of marriages with autistic children end in divorce than parents without special needs children. Unfortunately, having a child on the Autism Spectrum, Tourette's, Asperger's, Cerebral Palsy, or other special needs can be highly stressful on a marriage. When special needs parents decide to divorce, there are many aspects of the child's future that must be considered.

As you probably know, transitions can be difficult for a child with autism spectrum disorder. Such a child may have a very difficult time spending a few days at one parent's house and a few days at the other's. Thus, it's important that both lawyers and the judge become educated on why children need to have their unique needs addressed during the divorced process. Developing a parenting plan is an extremely important part of divorce where special needs children are present.

Your plan should include the following:

• Custody and timesharing between parents
• Parental responsibility
• Child Support adjustments
• Expert appointment or coordinator to avoid future litigation

If your child has a special need, you will want to bring it up immediately when you begin your divorce. Walking your Winter Park divorce lawyer through a "day in the life" with your child will help. You will also want your attorney to know how much time it takes to care for your child, how much it costs, and how it will affect your ability to work and earn a living.