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It is particularly important to negotiate a settlement when a couple has children. Where there are no children, a couple can walk away from their relationship and have nothing more to do with one another for the rest of their lives. However, where there are children, a couple can expect to be involved with each other, whether they like it or not, for the next five, twenty, or forty years. Both parents <span class="noglossary">will</span> want to be at their child's high school graduation, both <span class="noglossary">will</span> want to attend <span class="noglossary">parent</span>-teacher meetings, and both <span class="noglossary">will</span> want to go to school concerts and sports days. The child <span class="noglossary">will</span> want both parents to be there too. No matter how tense or awkward the relationship between the parents is, they <span class="noglossary">will</span> both be involved in each other's lives until they die or their child predeceases them. As a result, maintaining a functioning relationship is an absolute necessity, and negotiation gives parents the best chance of doing just that. | It is particularly important to negotiate a settlement when a couple has children. Where there are no children, a couple can walk away from their relationship and have nothing more to do with one another for the rest of their lives. However, where there are children, a couple can expect to be involved with each other, whether they like it or not, for the next five, twenty, or forty years. Both parents <span class="noglossary">will</span> want to be at their child's high school graduation, both <span class="noglossary">will</span> want to attend <span class="noglossary">parent</span>-teacher meetings, and both <span class="noglossary">will</span> want to go to school concerts and sports days. The child <span class="noglossary">will</span> want both parents to be there too. No matter how tense or awkward the relationship between the parents is, they <span class="noglossary">will</span> both be involved in each other's lives until they die or their child predeceases them. As a result, maintaining a functioning relationship is an absolute necessity, and negotiation gives parents the best chance of doing just that. | ||
For more information about parenting after a relationship has ended and how to put the children first in your dispute with the other parent, see the section on [[Parenting after Separation]] in the chapter on Children. For more information about the emotional issues that tend to come with the end of a long-term relationship and how to keep those issues from hopelessly complicating your dispute, see the section on [[Separating Emotionally]] in the chapter Separation and Divorce. | For more information about parenting after a relationship has ended and how to put the children first in your dispute with the other parent, see the section on [[Parenting after Separation]] in the chapter on Children. For more information about the emotional issues that tend to come with the end of a long-term relationship and how to keep those issues from hopelessly complicating your dispute, see the section on [[Separating Emotionally]] in the chapter, Separation and Divorce. | ||
==The ''Family Law Act'' and out-of-court options== | ==The ''Family Law Act'' and out-of-court options== |
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