Family court

When a mother and father decide they can’t live together anymore, they may decide to separate and live in different homes. If they have been married and don’t want to live together or be married anymore, they can get either a legal separation or a divorce. To get a divorce, married people have to go to court. In court, a mediator will help the parents plan for how they will take care of their children, and a judge will decide how they will split up all the things they shared while living together.

Children almost never have to go to court even if their parents have a case there, but once in a while they do. If you have to go to court, remember that it isn’t because you have done something wrong. Courts are different than other places you may have been, but you don’t have to be afraid. Lots of children have parents who go to family court. If you are wondering about this or are a little scared, it helps to tell someone your feelings about going to court. You will have your own lawyer called a guardian ad litem.