In the next few posts we will address some common emotional issues that get in the way of acting rationally during a divorce.
One misconception people going through a divorce often have is that the terms of the divorce can be changed later if things don’t work out for the best. This is a logical thought process because in most areas of our lives, it is possible to try out a situation and adjust if needed later. In the case of divorce it’s very, very difficult.
With most divorce terms, once you set precedence, you must prove a “substantial change in circumstance” which is a change significant enough to invalidate the original decision. In the case of the children’s placement, it is extremely hard to change even the days of placement, much less the percentage of time spent with one parent or number of overnights of one of the parents. Changing the schedule without both parents’ agreement usually requires appointment of a lawyer for the children called a Guardian Ad Litem.
