Rosenthal Law & Mediation
  • About Us
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
212.532.4704

We're here for
your family.

  • Work With Joy
    • Divorce Mediation
    • Collaborative Law
    • Review / Consulting
    • Prenuptial Agreements
  • Learn With Joy
    • Free Webinars
    • Landing On Your Feet
  • Calculator
  • Free Divorce and Family Law Resources
  • Contact
internal-main-image-divorce

A Children’s Bill of Rights for Divorce

July 21, 2010 By Joy Rosenthal

I read a custody case today which incorporated a Children’s Bill of Rights into her decision. MMH v William D.H. (Fam Ct, Dutchess Co, 3/5/10). While I have seen the Bill of Rights incorporated into separation agreements, I’ve never seen it incorporated into a judgment. I started to scout around and found several slightly different versions on the internet – from divorcehq, one written on about.com, kids in the middle, divorce central. But my favorite, for its completeness and simplicity, is that written by Robert Emery. Emery is famous for doing the classic longitudinal study showing that mediation had better outcomes for children, and that non-residential parents were much more likely to stay involved with their children on a regular basis if they participated in mediation.

I take the liberty of reprinting his Bill of Rights here:

Every child whose parents divorce has:

1. The right to love and be loved by both of your parents without feeling guilt or disapproval.

2. The right to be protected from your parents’ anger with each other.

3. The right to be kept out of the middle of your parents’ conflict, including the right not to pick sides, carry messages, or hear complaints about the other parent.

4. The right not to have to choose one of your parents over the other.

5. The right not to have to be responsible for the burden of either of your parents’ emotional problems.

6. The right to know well in advance about important changes that will affect your life; for example, when one of your parents is going to move or get remarried.

7. The right to reasonable financial support during your childhood and through your college years.

8. The right to have feelings, to express your feelings, and to have both parents listen to how you feel.

9. The right to have a life that is a close as possible to what it would have been if your parents stayed together.

10. The right to be a kid.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: bill of rights, children, children of divorce, custody, divorce, family, mediation, Robert Emery, stages of divorce

Categories

Recent Posts

  • Greetings from the law firm of Spin, Spin and Spin!
  • A Little Advice From Our Friends…
  • Advice needed! (and Happy New Year)

Recent Comments

  • Lauren Petkin on As I Live and Breathe…
  • Steve Abel on What’s Fair Is Fair… Or Is It?
  • Joy Rosenthal on Love in the Time of Coronavirus

Archives

How Can We Help You?

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

↑ Back to Top
Rosenthal Law & Mediation
212.532.4704

Joy S. Rosenthal, Esq.
226 Prospect Park West #156
Brooklyn, NY 11215

The information on this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney to obtain legal advice regarding your own situation.
Client Resources | Make a Payment | Disclaimer | Privacy
Website Design by Team of Horses | ©2010-2023 Rosenthal Law & Mediation