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Stereotypical custody determinations are no longer the norm

On Behalf of | Oct 25, 2012 | Child Custody

When divorce draws a line between a family in Ohio, especially one involving children, emotions can run high. With a child custody determination, a court’s decision can sometimes leave both parents dissatisfied with the future of their children’s whereabouts.

In the past, it was generally assumed that the mother would do the best to raise the child. She would be given primary custody and visitation rights would be awarded to the father, often only allowing him to see his child once every certain period of time. Not only is the formerly accepted stereotype of mothers being the better nurturers disintegrating, but so is the style of custody arrangement. Many judges have realized that gender-based custody determinations are not always in the best interest of any children involved. Limiting one parent from seeing her or his children to a small window of time has also become something seen less often.

This is largely because a standardized approach to child custody determinations has been thrown out. Each family is different and requires serious consideration to discern what would be best for the children, which may mean shared custody between the parents. This would likely require some amicability between the parents so that they can raise their children without fighting about the divorce and their former relationship at every chance they get, which will likely be rather often considering the amount of events that parents often attend for their children.

A court considers what is best for the child when creating the custody determination. If one parent has been known to abuse alcohol or drugs or a former partner or the interested child, it is extremely likely that the court will shy away from awarding that parent any sort of custody. This is so the child’s safety is protected. Many other factors also go into consideration when determining custody.

Source: U.S. Politics Today, “Wisconsin Child Custody: Every Child and Family Is Unique,” Oct. 12, 2012

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