For adolescents, living arrangements following separation and divorce can include a range of possibilities. As parents create their time schedules, they may want to consider the teenagers quest for independence, as well as their ability to care for their own needs. There are many factors that should be considered in this process, a few of them are:
- The adolescent’s temperament
- The activities they are in
- Whether or not they have a job
- Their level of peer involvement
- Their ongoing commitments to sports
- Their need for unstructured time
- Distance between homes
- Parents work schedule
- Any other obligations they might have
It is also important to maintain their accessibility to school, peers, extracurricular, and community activities from both residences.
Teenagers might want to be included in the decision-making about their living situation, early adolescents between the ages of 13 and 15 might not be mature enough to make these decisions just yet. Many older adolescents between the ages of 15 and 17 are ready and may be very vocal about how they want their arrangements structured. The adults may feel the need to make the ultimate decision about the living situation, but consulting with the teenager to get their ideas may help them feel like their needs have been considered.
For more information about helping a teenager balance their activities and home life in a divorce, click here.
Your Vancouver WA Divorce Attorney at Lambert Law Office knows that this difficult time can bring up some confusing situations. Click here to contact them today!