Connecticut and New York Divorce Lawyer and Special Needs Children

About half of all marriages end in divorce. Divorce is an emotional roller coaster and often a significant financial stress. When the couple has a child with special needs, the issues become much more complex.

Phillip J. Cohn has a unique sensitivity to helping children with disabilities and special needs. We are knowledgeable regarding the many unique challenges children with special needs face in the schools and courts. The firm is skilled in identifying problems, proposing remedies, and negotiating solutions to protect the rights of children with disabilities, including autism; learning disabilities; attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD / ADHD); dyslexia; tourette syndrome; personality disorder; bipolar disorder; obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD); and depression & anxiety.  We will help you understand your rights and why an important focus in your divorce must be placed on your special needs child.

Protecting Special Needs Children in the Divorce Agreement

When a couple is dealing with a divorce and they have a special needs child, it is important to keep the child’s needs at the center of any divorce agreement. Parents must consider how the divorce may affect school, custody, and their ability to physically care for the child by themselves before an agreement can be reached. Some of the common issues that are raised in the course of dealing with a divorce involving a special needs child include:

  • School issues regarding which parent will be the decision maker in the IEP (individualized education plan) or 504 plan process.
  • Physical limitations surrounding whether parents will be able to physically care for their special needs child based on his/her unique needs and necessary accommodations.
  • Parent cooperation and strategies to help divorcing couples stay focused on the child throughout the entire divorce process and negotiate through discussions regarding child support, daycare, medical bills and other expenses.

Call Today

If you are considering divorce and wish to learn more about how cases involving special needs children are handled, we can help. We know the Connecticut and New York school systems and courts, and how to protect children. Contact us today!

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