Custody and Support
While divorces are meant to dissolve the legal status of a marriage, they can sometimes seem as if they threaten to dissolve the status of a parent’s relationship with his or her children. Just as divorce splits a marital bond, custody and support can weaken a parental bond for the parent whose rights to their own children are at risk.
If you are facing a custody and support dispute, you know how painful the prospect of being distanced from your children can be, but it is important to remember that, because children hate to disappoint their parents, a custody dispute can be just as painful for children. This is why the Court assumes responsibility for making the final decision in custody cases.
In deciding custody arrangements, most courts consider a child’s custody preference in relation to his or her age. The older a child is, the more credence is given to his or her desire to live with a particular parent. However, most child experts advise keeping siblings together for sake of healthy sibling relationships.
No matter what side of a custody dispute you are on, it is important to remember that your family’s unique values and needs should be taken into consideration when negotiating custody arrangements. Challenging yourself to view custody issues from the perspective of a concerned parent can help restore sanity to the negotiation.
