Divorce can throw into chaos the comfortable life that an Alcoa child has established with their parents. Though it is not common for adults to want to create stress in the lives of their offspring, it is often an unavoidable part of untying their lives from each other and starting over on their own following the dissolution of their relationship. Although every divorce-related child custody matter must be evaluated on its own merits, this post will briefly discuss several of the key factors parents and courts must consider when determining how best to serve the children of divorce.
The guiding principle in all child custody cases is figuring out how to best serve the needs and interests of the children. While some kids may benefit and thrive in joint physical custody situations, others may find the movement from one household to the other disruptive and hard to cope with. A child’s physical, mental and emotional health should be considered when determining how to arrange their custodial care.
Additionally, parents and courts should investigate how best the parents of the child may provide the youth with what they need to be successful. This can mean that a parent’s medical or criminal history could influence the placement of a child during a custody negotiation. Also, a parent’s work commitments may be factored into how well they can provide a supportive environment for the child. Additional factors will also be weighed as a court or parents work to protect the best interests of the child.
While parents can sometimes work out child custody agreements on their own, other times they need the court’s intervention to create sound custody orders that will support and protect their kids. As they begin the tough processes of divorce and custody, many individuals can benefit from working with family law attorneys.