Everett Family Law Blog

When a Washington parent informs his or her children that a divorce is pending, the family as a whole may encounter numerous challenges in the weeks and months beyond that moment. Children are typically quite adaptable and resilient. However, there is no guarantee they will react without any emotional difficulty or that the divorce will no negative effects on their lives, so it is understandable that most parents would want to keep stress levels to a minimum regarding helping their children adapt to new lifestyles.  

Young children often suffer separation anxiety, even when both parents live under the same roof. In divorce situations, this reaction may be exacerbated because even toddlers can sense stress but cannot always express their feelings, so they may feel afraid, cry or have a tantrum whenever a parent is away, even for short amounts of time. Children of this age often regress where potty training is concerned, as well.  

Washington fans of the MTV show, "Teen Mom 2" are likely aware that a star of the show, Leah Messer, has been struggling in her personal life. She and her ex have been involved in a custody and parenting case that had to with Messer's mental health state at the time. In 2015, the father of her twin daughters accused her of being unfit, just after she had sought treatment for depression and anxiety issues.  

The 29-year-old mother recently spoke about that time, which she now terms as one of the lowest points in her life. She said her mental instability was having a negative effect on her physical health, and at one point, she became suicidal. She also debunked rumors that the situation had caused her to lose primary custody of her children.  

Most Washington residents no doubt know someone who is divorced. In fact, in many cases, it is not uncommon to know several couples who have divorced. Studies show that whether or not a friend's divorce was considered successful and amicable or was wrought with contention and settled only after a long, drawn-out court battle influences other couples' decisions who may be considering filing for divorce.  

It seems that if a concerned spouse has a friend who appears to have moved on in life and successfully adapted to a post-divorce lifestyle, that spouse may be more likely to file for divorce if he or she is struggling in marriage. Analysts say that seeing a friend who is happy after divorce may give an unhappy spouse confidence that he or she needs to call it quits in a marriage. On the other hand, having a friend who is even more miserable after divorce than he or she was in marriage might make someone cautious when it comes to his or her own situation.  

While every divorce is unique because no two Washington families are exactly the same, certain issues are common among those who choose to end their marriages. For instance, in custody and parenting agreements, both parents must fully adhere to court orders pertaining to all child-related issues in their divorce. Failing to adhere can prompt a judge to take action, such as in a case in another state where an arrest warrant has been issued for the father of a 4-year-old boy.  

The judge in this particular case has expressed frustration that the father in question has refused to return his son to the state of jurisdiction, despite the court's six separate orders to do so. In response to the father's apparent disregard for the court's orders, the judge has issued a warrant for his arrest. Officials say that once the arrest takes place, the man will be brought back to the state via a private system used to transport prisoners.