At one time in our nation, family courts were much less progressive. In some cases, these courts may have failed to recognize the many benefits a child receives when he or she has a relationship with both parents. The legal approach to child-related matters has changed a lot over the years. In these more contemporary times, Missouri courts support and advocate for quality parenting time regardless of who has primary child custody.
Child custody: What qualifies as parenting time interference?
Parenting plans need to be tailored to meet the children's needs
It can be easy to create a plan in which a parent spends every other week with his or her child. However, this may not necessarily be in the child's best interest, especially for kids who under 12 years of age. Fortunately, there are many different ways in which mothers and fathers can allocate parenting time after a divorce. For instance, a child could spend weekdays with one parent and the weekend with the other.
What parents should know about visitation
Generally speaking, Missouri parents are allowed to have a relationship with their children after a divorce. This may be true even if a parent is not allowed to have custody of a son or daughter. When making a physical custody ruling, a judge must ensure that the best interests of the child are being met. In some cases, it is easier for a child to live primarily with one parent.
How a child's age can affect custody plans
When parents with young kids in Missouri decide to divorce, some challenges will emerge. They may need to transition to a new coparenting relationship, no matter what disputes they went through before the separation. Coparenting requires good communication, but different approaches to custody might be necessary depending on the age of the children. When determining how parents should share custody, one situation does not have to remain the same forever. The parenting plan can even change to match the children's developmental stages.
Misconceptions about noncustodial parents
There is a misconception that noncustodial parents in Missouri and throughout the country don't care about their children. However, not having custody of a son or daughter doesn't mean that a parent doesn't play a significant role in that child's life. In many cases, he or she will have visitation rights and provide for the child financially. It is possible that a custodial parent will pay child support to the noncustodial parent.
Fathers have equal rights to child custody
Fathers in Missouri may be concerned about their future relationship with their children if they are going through a divorce. Many dads worry that family courts will be biased against them and in favor of the child's mother even though they are loving, active participants in family life. Historically, child-raising was seen as the natural province of mothers, and fathers were expected to be more distant. Many of these views date back to a time when two-income households were far less common. There was a general expectation that the mother would have primary custody of the children while the father would pay child support and visit the children from time to time.
How attitudes toward custody for fathers have changed
Some fathers in Missouri may be concerned that they will face bias in family court when they are trying to get custody of their children. Traditionally in divorce cases, mothers were awarded custody because it was assumed that they would stay home with their children while the fathers continued to work outside the home to continue caring for their children. However, attitudes toward the roles of mothers and fathers have changed over time, and courts have followed suit.
Challenging a proposed relocation
It is understandable that following your divorce in Jackson County, both you and your ex-spouse will want to move on with your lives. Yet if moving on to them includes moving away (with your children in tow), then you certainly may have objections to that. Many in your same position have come to see us here at the Stange Law Firm PC questioning if there is anything that they can do to prevent such a relocation from happening (or modify their custody agreements so that their time with their kids is not limited). If you share the same question, you will be happy to learn that there is.
Custody dispute extends into space
It may be no secret to most in Jackson County that child custody proceedings between divorcing or separated parents can become heated. The emotion that both parties to such proceedings feel towards their kids is no doubt strong (and is often equaled in the negative feelings they may feel towards the other parent). If and when one who is a party to a child custody dispute does something rash, it may be easy to dismiss such a person as having little self-discipline and control. Yet the emotions that can go into a child custody dispute (both good and bad) can often prompt otherwise calm, rational people to act in ways that they normally would not.
Are there different types of custody & visitation?
Determining child custody can be difficult for recently divorced parents. This is especially true when considering the many different types of custody arrangements that are available. When parents are at odds about custody and visitation, the focus must be put on the children at the center of the dispute. In fact, courts make all decisions based on the best interests of the children in question, to ensure they have a loving and healthy relationship with each parent. Very Well Family explains your options when it comes to child custody decisions.
