Families Change Teen Guide to Separation & Divorce

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Court

Sometimes when people split up, they have to go to court to have a judge make decisions for them because they can’t reach an agreement themselves.

Children and teens usually don't have to go to court. However, someone who works for the court might meet with you to find out what is best for you.

The court process can take a long time. Your parents might have to wait a long time for a hearing date. They may have to go back to court several times, and wait a long time between each court hearing. It won't happen overnight.

Q & R

Q:
My parents never married. Do they have to go through the same process that married parents do when they split up?
A:

Common-law parents — parents who chose to live together without getting married — don't get a divorce because there is no marriage to end. But they do need to decide what will happen to their children and how they’ll divide their property.

Q:
Who decides who I will live with? Do I get a say?
A:

Ideally, your parents will make the decisions together about who you’ll live with and how that will work.

If they can't decide themselves, they might go to a mediator for help in reaching an agreement. Or they might have to go to court and have a judge make the decisions for them.

Whether your parents make the decisions about custody and visiting rights themselves, or with the help of a mediator or a judge, your opinion should be taken into account.

Q:
What is the difference between legal separation and divorce?
A:

When two people who are married decide to split up, they need to get a divorce to legally end their marriage.

They can also decide to get a legal separation and divide up their property. They have to go to court for this, but this does not end the marriage. Divorce is the only way to end a marriage. To learn more about “legal separation” visit Éducaloi’s website.