Red Flags in a Child Custody Case

deputyandmizell

6 years ago

In child custody cases, the court rules in the best interest of the child. Whether or not a parent thinks he or she knows what’s best for the child is irrelevant. The court has certain factors that they will look at when granting custody. Deputy & Mizell is here to give you the red flags the court will typically watch out for in a child custody case. These are actions that parents have taken that may cause the court to question whether or not the parent is fit for custody. If you are fighting for custody of your child, you should have an experienced family law attorney at the Lake of the Ozarks on your side. Call Deputy and Mizell at 417-532-2191 for your free consultation today.

Red Flags in a Child Custody Case

Abandonment

According to the Child Welfare Manual, if someone’s child has been in foster care for at least 15 of the most recent 22 months or if their baby appears to be abandoned, that parent could be considered unfit for custody.

Illegal Activity

If a parent has committed murder of another child or parent or aided in a murder or seriously injured another child or parent – this could be grounds for termination of parental rights and a HUGE red flag in a child custody case.

Unstable Mental Capacity

If the parent in question has a mental illness that prevents them from performing the standard duties of a responsible parent, then they may have their parental rights taken away. Again, it’s all about what’s in the best interest of the child and who can best raise the child in the eyes of the court.

Excessive Alcohol or Drug Use

If the parent suffers from alcoholism or drug addiction, he or she could be deemed an unfit parent. Issues such as these can raise big red flags in a child custody case.

Financial Ability to Make Childcare Payments

According to the Child Welfare Manual, the court also looks at the parent’s payment history in regard to the cost of childcare. If the parent has failed to make payments at all or on time, their custody could be in jeopardy.

Source: https://dss.mo.gov/cd/info/cwmanual/section4/ch26/sec4ch26sub3.htm

Family Law Attorneys at the Lake of the Ozarks

Whether you are going through a rough divorce and fighting for full or joint custody or you are post-divorce and would like to make modifications to your child custody agreement, Deputy and Mizell can help you. When you hire our law firm, you can rely on us to pursue every available option to win your child custody case. Our attorneys fight aggressively to obtain the best possible settlement available in your case. While we always attempt to negotiate a fair resolution without the need for costly and painful litigation, our opponents know that we will not hesitate to go to court in order to protect our clients’ interests. If you are in need of a child custody lawyer at the Lake of the Ozarks who has many years of legal experience and that you can count on, call Deputy and Mizell today.