Madonna and ex-husband Guy Ritchie made headline news, having settled a court dispute over the custody of their 16-year-old son Rocco. The pair eventually reached an agreement that Rocca will continue to live in London with his father. The dispute arose in December 2015 when Rocco ignored a court order to fly back to live with his mother in New York. At this time, a judge ruled that Rocco should return to his mother. Madonna decided not to issue a warrant to enforce the order, but instead wanted them all to reach an agreement. Justice Deborah Kaplan during proceedings in New York State Supreme Court said: "No-one is disrupting his [Rocco’s] household other than the inability of the parents to reach a resolution… If they cannot resolve this matter then eventually the court will." Although separating parents may feel anxious and worried, in most cases they will be able to reach an agreement on the arrangements for their child, such as where the child will live and the time they will spend with the other parent. On occasion however, the court will become involved to decide what is in the “best interests of the child”. The court will consider during this time the importance of the child maintaining a relationship with both parents. It’s really important to identify the best approach for your child. There are alternatives to court, including mediation, that should be considered and may help keep relations with your ex-partner more amicable, despite your disagreements, for the benefit of your child. It's always important to consider the effects of a divorce on a child and to try to avoid conflict between you and your ex-partner where possible. If you find yourself struggling with issues regarding divorce and child arrangements, the expert family law team at Ramsdens Solicitors are here to help you! There are many options available to you to resolve these differences, including out of court options. Call us free on 08000 147720, send an email to family@ramsdens.co.uk or text LAW to 67777 to book a free thirty minute appointment at any of our twelve offices across West Yorkshire.....our family team are here to help you and your family.