There are many ways to create a family, and for some in Sarasota, a biological connection is not necessary. Many couples open their hearts and homes to children who have been abandoned by their parents, children who are distant relatives and children whose parents lost their parental rights. Some spouses take on the role of legal parent to the other spouse’s children through stepparent adoption.
Lengthy legal disputes continue for years after divorce
In most cases, when a Sarasota couple gets divorced, they want to resolve the issues they have quickly, so they can move on with their lives. Sometimes, however, there is so much animosity between the two people that divorce proceedings may extend for years as each side challenges the other over issues such as child custody and property division. Even after the divorce is settled, the former husband and wife may choose to continue the legal war in other ways through lawsuits and appeals.
Father charged with harassment following child custody hearing
Many times, child custody disputes are resolved in the courtroom if parents are unable to work out an arrangement between them. When a decision is made regarding which parent gets custody of a child, such as after a divorce or legal separation in Sarasota, a number of factors may be taken into account. At the child custody hearing, the child’s emotional well-being and the ability of the parent to care for the needs of the child are generally considered among other issues such as the preferences of each parent.
Many challenges exist for grandparents taking care of grandchildren
The military can provide a number of benefits to a person but it can also be difficult on families in Sarasota. Military divorce is common and many military servicemen and women find themselves caring for a child with little support. In the event that a parent faces deployment overseas, it may fall upon the grandparents to provide a home for the child and this can result in a unique situation. Because the arrangement is often a temporary one, grandparents often do not hold legal guardianship or child custody of their grandchildren.