Where Divorce And Children With Autism Are Headed
Where Divorce And Children With Autism Are Headed
Health Reference
Marriage, in general, can be difficult to navigate.
If you have a special needs child, it usually places additional stress on the marriage.
Fortunately, numerous studies show the divorce rates in a family that has a child with autism is not higher than the average divorce rate.
So, where divorce and children with autism are headed are no different than a marriage without an autistic child.
I am delighted numerous studies echo that if you are married and have an autistic child it does not make your marriage more likely to end in divorce.
In some marriages, the challenges of a special needs child make the marriage stronger. However, that is not the situation in all marriages.
With that written, HypoGal welcomes HypoGal’s guest blog post from Attorney Jovan A. Johnson.
Attorney Jovan Johnson shares the following information about divorce and children with autism:
Divorce and Children With Autism
DISCLAIMER: This article is for general information. If you are considering divorce and have an autistic child, you should consult with an attorney or licensed professional about the specifics of your situation.
Introduction
Unfortunately, divorce is a reality for many couples, and the situation can be further complicated if one more of their children have been diagnosed with autism. And although it is every parent’s hope that their child will eventually become self-sufficient enough to live on their own, it is nonetheless advisable for parents to make plans for the care of the child as a precaution.
It should be noted that some states offer programs and services to help children in these situations, however, it’s never certain that those programs and services will continue to exist in the future. As such, it’s vital that parents do their best to create certain safety nets to ensure that their child will be properly cared for.
This article will focus on steps that may be taken by the parents to protect an autistic child during and after a divorce.
Special Needs Trust
The purpose of a special needs trust is to provide financial support to a person (in this case, an autistic child) who is unable to manage his or her own financial affairs. A “trust” is a legal structure in which property is held by one party of the benefit of another (known as a “beneficiary.”) A person who creates a trust is called a “settlor” who then transfers the property to a “trustee.”
This property can be almost anything: cash, real estate, intellectual property, etc. For example, Parents A and B could open a bank account and deposit cash into it and transfer ownership of the account to a trustee, thus creating a trust.
The trustee would then administer the money in the account for the benefit of the child. Parents A and B would designate how the money is to be used when the trust is established, but the ultimate decisions would be made by the trustee. Trustees are held to a high legal standard and are always required to act in the best interest of the beneficiary.
There are tax advantages associated with forming certain types of trusts, so it’s crucial to consult with a knowledgeable attorney who can help you set one up. Additionally, the parents could designate that certain property is made part of the trust upon their deaths. This can include 401ks, life insurance policies, etc.
Life Insurance To Benefit Child With Autism
There are various types of life insurance policies available to consumers, including term and whole life/permanent. A term life policy pays only if the death occurs during the term of the policy, which is usually between one and thirty years.
There are two basic types of term life insurance:
1) level term, which means that the death benefit stays the same throughout the term of the policy,
2) decreasing term, which means the death benefit drops, usually in one-year increments, over the term of the policy. A whole life/permanent insurance pays whenever the insured dies. There are three types of whole life/permanent insurance: 1) traditional whole life, 2) universal life, and 3) variable universal life, and there are variations in each category.
It’s advisable for parents to research and consult with a professional regarding which life insurance policy would be sufficient to cover additional costs of lifetime care for the child. And if the parents do purchase life insurance policies, it might make sense to designate the special needs trust the beneficiary.
Life insurance policies are especially prudent if one or both of the parents are afflicted with health issues that may lead to a premature death. In such cases, the policy would help ensure that the child will be cared for if one or both parents passes away at an early age.
When a couple is divorced, it’s common for the parents to be required to provide annual copies of the life insurance policies and proof that payments continue to be made. This yearly requirement could be consented to as a stipulation of the divorce.
Last Will & Testament for Autistic Child
A will is a legal instrument that states how a person’s possessions will be distributed after they are deceased. Those who receive property are known as beneficiaries, and an executor is a person in charge of distributing the estate. When creating a will, it’s advisable to consult with a knowledgeable attorney who can recommend the best ways to protect the child. The will could also serve to appoint a legal guardian for the child. In the case of divorce, if a couple has a joint will, new separate wills should be drafted. A joint will is a binding legal contract, which cannot be canceled or revised after one spouse has died. As a result, it’s common for lawyers to recommend against joint wills in the first place.
Additionally, if a parent has one child and that child is autistic, it may be prudent for the parent to execute a “living will” that will clearly state the parent’s wishes if he or she becomes unable to make medical decisions. This is especially important if the autistic child would be unable to make the decisions on behalf of the parent.
Custody and Child Support That Involves Autistic Child
Child support is an ongoing, periodic payment made by a parent toward a child’s living and medical expenses. Both parents have a legal duty to provide financial support for their child. When a couple divorces, a court will look to a number of factors to determine the amount of child support that should be paid. Child support can be made toward a variety of costs, such as health insurance, recreational activities, college, car expenses, etc.
In the case of an autistic child, calculation of child support can require special considerations that must be weighed by the court. Further, the court will decide which parent is the “custodial parent” or if there is some shared custody arrangement.
In cases where custody is not shared, it is the non-custodial parent who will be required to make child support payments to the custodial parent for the care of the child.
Also, when the child turns 18 years old, if he or she is still not able to care for himself or herself, either parent can file for legal guardianship. In such cases, the parents could agree to split the cost of filing and court fees.
As a legal guardian, one or both parents would be responsible for the well-being of the adult child. It must be noted that guardianship does not happen automatically and must be petitioned for.
The parents must also decide who can claim the child as a dependent on his or her taxes. Usually, a custodial parent will be permitted to claim the child as a dependent.
If custody is shared 50/50 between the parents, it must be clarified which parent will be entitled to claim the deduction.
Decision-Making That Affects Autistic Child
When it comes to decision-making, it must be clearly defined if the custodial parent will be in charge of certain decisions or if they will require the consent of both parents. For example, decisions regarding education and medical care can greatly impact the life of an autistic child, especially when there are ongoing medical treatments at the time of the divorce.
These issues can become a point of conflict for some couples during a divorce if the treatments are expensive and one of the parents does not want to continue paying for those services.
Additionally, if a parent becomes remarried, it should be clearly stated how decisions will be made moving forward. Usually, the new spouse will not be allowed to affect any decisions that have already been agreed up on by the parents.
Safety Concerns For Children With Autism
If one of the parents suffers from alcohol or drug addiction, it would be wise for the custodial parent to request that the judge includes an order that the other parent will not be allowed to drink alcohol or become intoxicated in any way during visitation with the child. Some judges will require that both parents follow this rule.
Similarly, if the custodial parent is wary that the other parent will have inappropriate guests or companions present during a child’s visit, the custodial parent can request that there will be no other overnight guests while the child is visiting.
Along the same lines, as with the previous rule, a judge may require that both parents adhere to this arrangement.
Also, if the child is prone to wandering away from home or is not able to function in a typical environment, a judge may order that both parents must take proper precautions when the child is present.
This can include double-sided door locks and other safety devices. These requirements can also extend to when a parent travels with the child.
Notices That Relate To A Child With Autism
When a custody settlement has been successfully negotiated and approved by a judge, the parents must notify certain people of the new circumstances, including administrators at the child’s school, any doctors or therapists, and any caretakers or caregivers.
That way it will be clear to everyone involved in the child’s life regarding who has the right to custody and to make decisions.
Thank you, Attorney Jovan Johnson, for your article about Divorce and Children with Autism.
Health References/ Resources:
http://www.childlawhelpcenter.com/divorce-and-children-with-autism
http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/news/20100519/autism-famlies-high-divorce-rate-is-a-myth#1
http://www.autismsupportnetwork.com/news/til-autism-do-we-part-5565421
http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2015/12/15983/
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/dvs/state_divorce_rates_90_95_99-15.pd
I hope this HypoGal Blog health reference post, Where Divorce and Children With Autism Are Headed has been insightful, and helpful.
HypoGal welcomes other guest bloggers that compliment HypoGal’s audience.
You can find shortcuts to living with a chronic illness on the HypoGal Website.
You may also find the Autism resource, Everything You Have To Know About Autism useful.
Please, Like, HypoGal on Facebook.
You can receive HypoGal’s Free Updates by entering your email address at the top of this page.