Tuesday 15 March 2016

Information Regarding Child Custody Assessment Tools

By Michael McDonald


Most courts use a regular method when deciding which parent the child should live with. The method has the kids best welfare when coming to a decision about who among the caregivers can the child live with. At times, as part of th child custody assessment tools, courts can order a drug test to be done on both parents and if a parent refuses, the consequences are severe.

Is custody awarded to just one parent? This is not always the case. A court can award partial custody to both parents which is commonly called joint custody. In joint physical custody, kids spend equal amount of time with both parents. In joint legal custody, both parents decide together on matters affecting the children. Sometimes it takes both forms.

In a custody battle, are mothers favored than fathers? In the past, this was the case. Mothers were the custodians of children below five years. Of late, most states are fair in their ruling. Both parents have a fair chance as their capability to take care of the children is considered. The parent that has the childrens best interests will win despite the gender.

In cases whereby one parent moves and leaves to another place and in the process leaves them behind, the court will decide in favor of the parent who was left with them. The reason is that that the one who left will be considered unfit to raise up the children no matter the reasons he had for leaving. Also, no judge will be willing to change the location of the kids.

The childs custody depends highly also on the parents lifestyle. If a parent smokes and takes more alcohol than the other, chances are that he/she will not get the custody. A child has to live where his health will not be at risk. There are other social aspects too. If there is a history about child abuse, that would be an immediate red flag.

To be able to live with your child, there are a lot of requirements you have to fulfill as a parent. You should be living in a fixed location so that you do not have to change your kids to be living in an environment they are not familiar with. You have to provide for the kids the basics like food, clothes and medical care. Your emotional bond with the kids has to be strong.

Is the sexual orientation of the guardian likely to deter one from getting custody? This decision varies from state to state. Some states do not consider a persons sexuality a hindrance to living with the kids or visiting them. In others, the judge has to consider the stigmatization of these youngsters in case the children ends up with their gay parent.

In case all factors does not favor one parent over the other, the court will prefer to give custody to the parent who will most likely foster a good relationship between the other parent and their children. The parent has to be able to provide a stable environment as the child is used to and is the childs primary caregiver for the younger children.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment