Family Law

Divorce and Your In-Laws

By Erin Kelley

By: Gerri L. Elder

Sometimes during divorce, you may feel like you are divorcing your spouse’s family as well. This can be a difficult situation in close families, especially if your ex-spouse?s family has accepted you as a son or daughter.

If you are a parent, your child’s grandparents will still likely play an important role in their lives. Child custody and visitation agreements rarely address the child’s time with grandparents. In many states, grandparents may petition the court, if necessary, to establish visitation rights for grandparents.

Parents who share custody may work together to create a parenting plan that includes the child’s time with grandparents in the schedule. Even if you did not have a wonderful relationship with your in-laws, they will always be your child’s grandparents. In keeping the focus on the best interest of the child, parents should consider the continuing role of grandparents in the child’s life.

If your divorce was particularly bitter or if you never liked your in-laws in the first place, it can be a challenge to remain cordial and calm when it?s time for your child?s visits with them. However, parents should show the same respect that they expect to receive and act in a courteous and polite manner when it is necessary to communicate with an ex-spouse or former in-laws. This “grin and bear it” approach will allow your child to be loved by their entire family ? even the part that is no longer your family.

Full post as published by The Divorce Blog on March 30, 2009 (boomark / email).