New Free Parenting Guide Offered to Separating Families in Cheshire

A free parenting guide for families who are separating is being offered by Hibberts Solicitors Family Specialist and Head of Family Law, Donna Riley. It contains advice and information to help parents put children first during a separation or divorce.

The ‘Parenting Through Separation Guide’ is free to local families who are divorcing or separating and is written by family professionals and advises parents on how to put their children first during a separation. The Guide is available through the national family justice organisation ‘Resolution’, and can be accessed here as part of an initiative to raise awareness of how families can separate amicably.

Donna Riley, from Hibberts Family Law Department comments “We know that the pandemic has put huge pressure on families and even more so on those who are separating. This is especially the case following a particularly stressful and uncertain Christmas period. Of course, every parent wants to put their children’s interests first, but all too often they don’t know where to turn for help and are not given the support they need to do this.”

The free parenting guide gives families access to good, authoritative and professional advice that helps them to parent responsibly through their separation. As a local law firm in Cheshire, we hope all local separating parents will use the ‘Parenting Through Separation Guide to help them find a better way forward for themselves, and their children.

Any parent seeking help during their separation will also find the free parenting guide useful. It contains advice about how to co-parent with a former partner, background on the common disputes that arise between separating parents, and how to talk to children about the painful topic of divorce or separation, plus much more.

Here’s an extract of the advice contained within the guide:

Top tips for discussing divorce with your children

• If your situation allows, try to have a joint conversation when all of your children are present. Keep this age-appropriate.
• Plan a series of conversations, including different follow up conversations, if your children are of different ages. Be mindful that their reactions will depend on their age, developmental stage and their individual personality.
• Reassure your children that it is okay to feel sad or scared and showing emotion is good. They can always talk to either of you and ask questions.
• Remember you are a role model and your children are watching how you manage this situation. If they see that you are still their parents, making decisions together about them, then they will cope better.

For more information or legal support during divorce and separation, contact our Family Law Department here.