Joint Parenting Agreements

David Siegel: That’s right. In a Joliet divorce case, when there's children, there's nothing more important than the provisions that deal with those children. I don't care about the property distribution, the debt, division of retirement benefits. What it really comes down to in many cases when there's children are the important issues involving those children. That's a lifelong commitment. Technically you're only on the hook through college, but really, children are for a lifetime. Let's talk about the law of divorce, and joint parenting agreements as part of a court order, as it relates to divorce and family law cases. Where would you like to start? What's the most important thing that everybody wants to know regarding their children?

Jesse Barrientes: I think just a couple brief kind of statements here. I think that it's very important for both parties not to really involve the children with litigation. It's going to be hard enough for them, and people might think that just because the children don't say anything, or don't mention anything, that it's not going to have an impact on them. Children are very sensitive. Children know their parents ___ the age two, and they know the patterns, and they know that there's a difference. They know there's something wrong, and very often they think they're the cause of it.

So it's exceptionally important for people out there to understand that – hey, listen. It's important to do this civilly, to leave the kids out of it. don't use the kids as a pawn just because you want more support our you want to hurt the other parent because what he or she has done to you, or what you perceive that they've done to you. That's I think the most important thing that people have to remember.

David Siegel: And don't try to alienate the child's affections against one parent.

Jesse Barrientes: Absolutely. The only way that you should talk about the other person, even if it kills you, is just to talk complimentary, that's your father, that's your mother, they love you. Just do positive reinforcement with the kids, because if you don't, that's exactly right. You're alienating them, and you're doing your kids, your children, a great disservice.

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