Going through a divorce is never easy, but it can be particularly difficult if you have a child with special needs. Having a special needs child can impact every aspect of your divorce – from marital property division to child custody, spousal support, and child support.

If you are the parent of a special needs child who is planning to file for divorce, you need a divorce lawyer who can provide you with the personalized legal representation you need. At Pence Law Firm PLLC, we have handled several divorce cases involving special needs children over the years and have a deep understanding of the issues that are unique to these types of divorces.

Divorce and Special Needs Children – Key Issues to be Considered

Child Custody and Visitation

Caring for a child with special needs is completely different from caring for a normal child. Depending on whether your child has a physical, cognitive, behavioral, developmental, or sensory-related impairment, they might have unique needs that other children might not have. This is something you and your spouse need to keep in mind during child custody and visitation negotiations.

Moreover, as your child grows, their needs might change drastically. You – or your spouse – need to decide whether you have the means (financial and otherwise) to care for your child and make sure their needs are met.

It’s crucial to consult with doctors and mental health professionals to get a clear idea of your child’s current and future needs so that you can come up with an effective parenting plan that does not disrupt your child’s life too much.

It should also be noted that as your child grows, you might have to adjust your parenting plan to accommodate their changing needs. If the child custody and visitation order does not give you the leeway to adjust parental duties and visitation schedules, you have to request the court to modify the order.

Spousal Support

Most special needs children require special medical care, mental health care, medications, and supplements. As a result, the custodial parent might have to spend a substantial amount of money (depending on whether these expenses are covered under the child’s health insurance plan) on a monthly basis. The court might take this factor into consideration while ordering spousal support.

Child Support

Child support payments are meant to be paid only until the child in question turns 18. Once the child reaches the age of 18, the payments stop. This is not the case with special needs children. Depending on the severity of your child’s condition, the court might order you to pay child support even after your child turns 18.

Another important issue to be considered is that your child might qualify for public benefits like social security disability insurance and Medicaid. If you pay child support directly to your child, it might be considered an income and your child might lose their benefits as a result.

You need to consult with a skilled West Virginia divorce and special needs lawyer to figure out a way to support your child without affecting their right to receive state and federal benefits.

Special Needs Trust

Setting up a special needs trust is one of the best ways to provide for your child’s needs in the future. A special needs trust is relatively easy to manage and can be a source of reliable long-term income for your child.

Two of the most common types of special needs trust that can be set up for the benefit of special needs children and adults are first-party special needs trust and third-party special needs trust.

As mentioned above, any financial assistance provided directly to your child will be considered an income and affect their eligibility for public benefits. So, you should set up the trust in such a way that the funds in it will not be considered an income while determining your child’s eligibility to receive public benefits.

Guardianship for Special Needs Children in West Virginia

Guardianship represents a profound legal mechanism, meticulously designed to safeguard the welfare and interests of individuals who, due to various incapacities, are unable to manage their own affairs.

At its core, guardianship is a court-ordered arrangement wherein a judge designates a competent individual or entity—the guardian—to assume the responsibility of making critical decisions on behalf of another person, often referred to as the “protected person” or “ward.”

While the concept of “custody” primarily pertains to the care and upbringing of a minor child, guardianship typically emerges as a paramount consideration when a special needs child approaches or reaches the age of majority, which is 18 years old in West Virginia, and may lack the requisite capacity to independently navigate the complexities of adult life.

This transition from childhood to adulthood presents a unique set of challenges for families of special needs individuals, making a thorough understanding of guardianship laws in West Virginia indispensable.

When Guardianship Becomes Necessary

For a significant number of children with special needs, particularly those living with profound cognitive, developmental, or intellectual disabilities, the attainment of legal adulthood at age 18 does not automatically confer the practical ability to make independent, informed decisions.

These decisions encompass vital aspects of their lives, including their financial management, healthcare choices, educational pursuits, vocational training, and even fundamental living arrangements.

In such circumstances, the establishment of guardianship becomes not merely an option, but often a critical necessity. It ensures that a legally authorized individual can continue to exercise authority and provide the necessary oversight to protect the individual’s best interests and promote their ongoing welfare.

Without the legal framework of guardianship, parents, who have historically been the primary decision-makers for their minor children, abruptly lose their legal authority the moment their child turns 18.

This sudden cessation of parental authority can precipitate a myriad of significant challenges.

For instance, parents may find themselves unable to consent to crucial medical treatments, access their adult child’s medical records, manage their financial accounts (including government benefits like Supplemental Security Income or SSI), or even enroll them in necessary educational or vocational programs. Housing decisions, legal contracts, and general advocacy for services can become incredibly difficult, if not impossible, without a guardian’s legal standing.

Proactive planning is therefore paramount, as the absence of guardianship can leave a vulnerable adult child without the necessary legal protection and support, potentially exposing them to exploitation or neglect. West Virginia law, like that in many other states, generally adheres to the principle of the “least restrictive alternative,” meaning that guardianship should only be pursued when less restrictive options are insufficient to protect the individual’s interests.

Types of Guardianship in West Virginia

West Virginia law offers a nuanced approach to guardianship, providing for different types of arrangements tailored to the specific needs and remaining capacities of the individual. This flexibility aims to balance protection with the promotion of the greatest possible independence.

Guardianship of the Person: This form of guardianship grants the appointed guardian comprehensive authority over the protected individual’s personal decisions. This includes, but is not limited to, critical choices regarding medical care and treatment, determination of living arrangements (e.g., residential facilities, group homes, or living at home), educational and vocational planning, and oversight of daily activities suchations as diet, hygiene, and social engagements.

The guardian of the person is responsible for ensuring the individual’s physical safety, emotional well-being, and access to appropriate services that enhance their quality of life. This may extend to decisions about recreational activities, choice of friends, and, where appropriate, religious practices, always with the protected person’s best interests as the guiding principle.

Guardianship of the Property (or Estate): Distinct from guardianship of the person, this type of guardianship confers upon the guardian the legal authority to manage the individual’s financial affairs and assets.

This responsibility is significant and encompasses a wide range of duties, including managing bank accounts, paying bills, handling government benefits (such as SSI or Social Security Disability Insurance, SSDI), overseeing investments, filing taxes, and managing any inheritances or trusts established for the individual’s benefit.

The guardian of the property acts as a fiduciary, meaning they are legally obligated to manage the protected person’s finances with the utmost care, prudence, and loyalty, always prioritizing the protected person’s financial well-being. Meticulous record-keeping and regular financial accountings to the court are typically required.

Limited Guardianship: Recognizing that not all individuals with special needs require a complete surrender of their decision-making rights, West Virginia law provides for limited guardianship.

In such cases, if the individual retains some capacity to make certain decisions, the court may grant a limited guardianship, where the guardian’s authority is specifically restricted to only those areas where the individual demonstrably needs assistance.

For example, an individual might be capable of managing their daily spending and personal care but require a guardian’s assistance for major financial transactions, medical decisions, or housing arrangements.

This type of guardianship is highly preferred when appropriate, as it aligns with the principle of maximizing the individual’s autonomy and self-determination, allowing them to retain control over aspects of their life where they possess the capacity to do so.

It is also important to note that while guardianship is often necessary, families should explore alternatives or complementary strategies. These might include Powers of Attorney (if the individual has the capacity to grant one before turning 18 or before losing capacity), healthcare surrogates, or the establishment of special needs trusts. However, for individuals with significant cognitive impairments, these alternatives may not provide the comprehensive legal authority and protection that a guardianship offers.

The Guardianship Process in West Virginia

Establishing guardianship in West Virginia is a formal legal process that typically unfolds within the circuit court system and involves several distinct stages designed to ensure due process and protect the rights of the proposed ward.

Petition: The process commences when an interested party, most commonly a parent, family member, or sometimes a social service agency, files a formal “Petition for Appointment of Guardian” with the appropriate circuit court in the county where the proposed ward resides.

The petition is a legal document that must clearly state the reasons why guardianship is believed to be necessary, provide detailed information about the proposed ward’s condition and needs, identify the proposed guardian, and outline the specific powers requested for the guardian (e.g., guardianship of the person, property, or both, or a limited guardianship).

Notice: A critical legal requirement is that proper notice of the filed petition must be formally served upon the individual for whom guardianship is sought (the “proposed ward”), their immediate family members (such as parents, spouse, adult children), and any other interested parties identified by the court.

This notice informs them of the pending legal action and their right to appear in court and object to the petition. The purpose of this notice is to ensure that all relevant parties are aware of the proceedings and have an opportunity to participate or present their views. Failure to provide proper notice can lead to the dismissal of the petition or the later invalidation of the guardianship order.

Evaluation: The court almost invariably requires a comprehensive medical or psychological evaluation of the proposed ward. This evaluation, typically conducted by a qualified physician, psychologist, or other relevant professional, is crucial for determining the individual’s current capacity to make decisions regarding their personal care, medical treatment, and financial affairs.

The evaluation assesses cognitive abilities, communication skills, understanding of consequences, and the ability to express preferences. The findings of this evaluation are presented to the court, providing essential evidence upon which the judge will base their decision regarding the necessity and scope of guardianship.

Hearing: Following the completion of the evaluation and the proper notification of all parties, a formal court hearing is scheduled. During this hearing, the judge presides, reviews the evidence presented, including the medical or psychological evaluation report, and hears testimony from the petitioner, the evaluating professional, and potentially other witnesses (such as family members, caregivers, or therapists).

The individual for whom guardianship is sought has the fundamental right to be present at this hearing, to have legal representation (often a court-appointed attorney if they do not have one), and to present their own testimony or preferences, if capable.

The court’s primary objective at this stage is to determine whether the proposed ward is indeed incapacitated to the extent that guardianship is necessary and whether the proposed guardian is suitable and capable of fulfilling the responsibilities.

Appointment: If, after considering all the evidence and testimony, the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that guardianship is necessary and that it is in the proposed ward’s best interest, it will issue an order appointing a guardian.

This court order is a legally binding document that meticulously outlines the specific powers and responsibilities granted to the guardian, the duration of the guardianship, and any limitations or specific instructions.

Upon appointment, the guardian typically must take an oath to faithfully execute their duties and may be required to file an initial inventory of the protected person’s assets if a guardianship of the property is established.

Responsibilities of a Guardian

Once appointed, a guardian assumes significant and ongoing legal and ethical responsibilities. Their paramount duty is to act solely in the “best interests” of the protected person, making decisions that genuinely promote their well-being, safety, and quality of life. This is a fiduciary duty, requiring the guardian to prioritize the protected person’s needs above all else.

Specific duties of a guardian can be extensive and include:

Personal Care: Ensuring the protected person receives appropriate medical care, attends necessary therapy sessions, and has access to essential daily living supports. This also involves making decisions about their living environment, ensuring their safety, and facilitating social activities and community integration.
Financial Management (if applicable): For guardians of the property, this involves meticulous record-keeping of all income and expenses, prudent management of assets, payment of bills, and avoiding any conflicts of interest. They are typically required to provide regular, detailed financial accountings to the court, often annually, to demonstrate proper stewardship of the protected person’s funds.
Advocacy: Navigating complex systems such as healthcare providers, educational institutions, social services agencies, and government benefits programs. The guardian acts as the primary advocate for the protected person, ensuring they receive all entitled services and protections.
Reporting to the Court: Guardians are generally required to provide regular reports to the circuit court, detailing the protected person’s current status, health, living arrangements, and the management of their affairs. These reports ensure ongoing judicial oversight and accountability.

Guardianship is a serious, long-term commitment that demands ongoing dedication, adherence to strict legal requirements, and a deep understanding of the protected person’s needs. Guardians may benefit from educational resources, support groups, and legal counsel to help them fulfill their duties effectively.

It’s also important to remember that guardianship is not necessarily permanent; it can be modified or even terminated by the court if circumstances change, or if the protected person regains capacity. This legal framework, while complex, is designed to provide essential protection and support for West Virginia’s most vulnerable citizens.

Importance of a Cordial Relationship Between the Parents

Special needs children need parental love. The more involved the parents are in their child’s life, the happier the child will be. It’s why you and your ex-spouse should try to maintain a cordial relationship even after divorce.

You should consult with each other while making important decisions on your child’s behalf and find a way to be actively involved in your child’s life – regardless of the differences and disagreements you might have with each other.

Legal Help is Here from Compassionate West Virginia Family Law Attorneys

At Pence Law Firm PLLC, we know that navigating a divorce when you have a special needs child can be extremely stressful. Our legal team has over 100 years of combined experience in handling divorce, child custody, alimony, child support, and guardianship-related cases.

We can handle your case with compassion and sensitivity, negotiate with your spouse’s attorney on your behalf, and go the extra mile to achieve an outcome that is in keeping with your child’s best interests.

Call us today at 304-345-7250 or use our online contact form to schedule a consultation with a West Virginia family law attorney from our firm.