There are a lot of factors that go into rendering a child custody decision, all of which fall under the umbrella of the children’s best interests. Understanding what these factors are will help shed some clarity on your case and give you the knowledge you need to attend court feeling prepared for anything you may face.
The Best Interests of Your Children
For parents who are going through a divorce, child custody is one of the most important issues in the entire process, so it is important to understand how these decisions are made in family court.
Here are some of the crucial factors a judge will evaluate to determine child custody:
- Confirmed evidence of neglect, abuse, or domestic violence by either parent.
- How a different or continued arrangement might affect the children.
- The ability of each parent to give the children a loving and stable living environment.
- The wishes of the children, if they are old enough.
- How attached the children are to their school, neighborhood, and home.
- Each parent’s living accommodations.
- The overall physical and mental health of both parents.
- The wishes of each parent.
- The quality of the children’s relationship with each parent.
- How willing either parent is to support the other’s relationship with the children or if either parent would try to prevent a meaningful relationship.
- Which parent provided most of the children’s care.
- The ages of the children.
- If either parent brought false allegations of neglect or abuse against the other.
- Any other factors a judge believes are pertinent to rendering a child custody decision.
No two child custody cases are identical, so the factors a judge examines in your case may slightly differ from the list above. Consult with an experienced attorney as soon as possible to ensure the best results for your case.
Schedule a Case Evaluation with Our Knowledgeable Child Custody Attorney Today!
If you are in the middle of a child custody dispute, the compassionate family law team at the Law Office of Tzvi Y. Hagler, P.C. can provide the guidance and support you need. We know how difficult these cases can be and will work tirelessly on your behalf to protect your rights as a parent.
You deserve a skilled legal advocate on your side. Call our law firm today at (516) 514-3868 to set up an initial case review with our attorney to discuss the details and learn more about what we can do for you.
