"WILHELM, KATE - JUSTICE FOR SOME" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wilhelm Kate)

custody of the four children is the major difficulty to be resolved."

Mr. Wickham shook himself and muttered, "And the house."

"Yes, the house," Sarah said, nodding. "You have both stated that one
parent should be allowed to remain in the house where the children have
lived all their lives, so they can continue to attend the schools they
are familiar with, enjoy the friendships they have made, and suffer the
least amount of trauma. This arrangement, of course, would mean that one
parent would have primary custody; however, you have both requested and
agreed to joint and equal custody, and this issue must be resolved. The
court appreciates that you both recognize," she went on smoothly, "that
divorce is always traumatic, and that probably the children suffer even
more than the parents in these cases. In studying your financial
statements, I came to the conclusion that the parent who must move out
will suffer a severe economic hardship in trying to maintain a second
house large enough to accommodate the four children during their visits.

Therefore, that cost must be borne equally between you, since you are
being awarded joint custody, and it is the stated purpose of this
hearing today to assure that your children are not plunged into poverty
along with one of the parents."

Mr. Wickham glowered, but almost instantly he crossed his arms and then
nodded. Mrs. Wickham began to shake her head; her eyes filled with
tears. "I don't have enough money for another house," she whispered.

"I know you don't," Sarah said. "And neither does Mr. Wickham, not
really, although he may think at this moment that he could manage it."
"What I said all along is that we gotta sell the house," Mr. Wickham
said.

"No," Sarah said firmly. "You have very little equity in the property,
although the payments are quite manageable, but payments on two houses,
or even two apartments large enough for four children, would be a
burden. Everyone would be impoverished very quickly." She paused a
moment, then said, "What this court is prepared to order is that the
children remain in the house, and that you take turns living in it with
them.

Their trauma will be lessened considerably, and you could joint rent an
apartment, or rent separate affordable apartments, as you prefer."

The silence in the room was profound for several seconds as they all
stared at her.

Mr. Wickham began to change color, his ruddy face growing darker and
darker red, and Mrs. Wickham was shaking her head again, harder this
time.