Divorce is difficult for everyone, but there are additional challenges for a family member with special needs.

When considering support and care of the child, it is important to have a complete and accurate picture of the present and future needs. This information will be considered in deciding custody, visitation, child support and medical support. It will be important at the initial stages of the process (to determine stability for the child in support and visitation while the case is pending) and it will be important in deciding the final allocation of the marital resources and debts. Depending on how much care and supervision the child needs, it may also determine the need for spousal support or payment for in-home help or care.

Consistency is important. Well-thought out "temporary orders" (which apply while the divorce is pending) can help the parents know exactly what is expected of them in regards to custody, visitation, duties and support and assist them in keeping misunderstandings to a minimum.

It is important to be sure that the attorneys in the case have an understanding of the child's condition, so that legal fees can be spent in meaningful negotiations or trial preparation.

In certain cases, child support may extend beyond the usual time (in Texas child support most often terminates when a child is over 18 and out of secondary school). When a child is very young, it may be difficult to determine whether or not this will be necessary because there may not be enough facts available at that time.

Just as in any divorce case, the court will make the decisions that the parents cannot agree upon, and will do so with "the best interest of the child" as the primary criteria.

Final divorce orders may include provisions for specialized medical care, psychological care, or training. At the time of the final divorce, every effort should be made to draft a final decree that is "long-lasting", in order to prevent the trauma and expense of returning to court in the early post-divorce years.

Even if every effort is made to predict the future situation, it may be necessary at some point to go back to the court for a modification of the previous orders. If so, information from doctors, psychologists and school counselors can be invaluable, especially if these professionals have good communication with both parents and a long-term history with the child.

It is important that all professionals who are working with the family, including attorneys and mediators, have an understanding of the situation so that they can properly advise the family.