Child custody can be a challenge for divorcing couples. Although spouses can agree on how to divide custody rights and privileges, many require family court judges to intervene and decide on the matter.
Child custody requires parents to consider physical and legal custody as well as visitation rights. Family law courts focus on looking after the best interests of children.
Understanding how your relationship with your child affects your custody case helps you present a stronger legal argument that results in the outcome you want.
Best Interests of the Child and Family
A parent’s relationship with a child is one of the many factors that family court judges use deciding on custody agreements.
They also consider the parents’ health and the home environment in which a child is raised. Relationships to siblings, educational and health needs, financial stability, and other factors are also assessed during custody cases.
The relationship you’ve established with your child is critical to the custody agreement you obtain. It’s a result of your ability to participate in all aspects of your child’s life. This includes the daily responsibilities that have to be met by parents.
Parents must be involved with their children’s needs while giving them the support, emotional stability, and patience that children need.
Emotional Ties Between Parent and Child
The parent who has the strongest emotional ties to the child will generally create the most favorable environment for the child. But how can this be measured by the courts in a custody case?
By providing the right evidence, parents demonstrate the bond they have with their children. This can support their case and ensure that they get the custody agreement they want.
Parents must know the needs and interests of their children. Having knowledge of seemingly trivial things like your child’s favorite books or foods reflects the strength of your relationship.
Providing guidance to children and showing affection are other examples of the factors that contribute to the emotional bond between a parent and a child.
Family law courts prefer that children have both parents in their lives. But in some cases, one spouse may try to interfere with the other’s custody.
A parent should encourage the child to have a strong relationship with the other parent. Preventing your child from having a relationship with your spouse may negatively impact your own custody and visitation rights.
How Can You Demonstrate Your Relationship With Your Child in Custody Cases?
Parents must have the legal resources they need when seeking a fair custody agreement. In Georgia divorce cases, the courts typically request a parenting plan from both spouses.
Although many couples submit joint parenting agreements, others often choose to provide separate plans when they disagree on issues related to custody or visitation.
Parenting plans give courts the information they need to meet the needs of children while supporting their best interests in the long run.
Children over the age of 11 can state a parental preference to the courts. Although this doesn’t direct the final decisions made by courts, judges may consider it in a custody case.
The relationship you have with your child is an important part of your custody case. Understanding the factors that demonstrate the strength of a bond between parents and children is the first step in getting a custody decision you want.
Your family law attorney will help you gather and provide the evidence that supports your case. More importantly, you’ll look after the best interests of your child and ensure that they have all the resources needed for their long-term development.