Co-parenting your child can take lots of work. While co-parenting is usually the court’s preferred option, it doesn’t always work out.
Your ex-spouse may not have your child’s best interests in mind, and that can harm your child’s growth and well-being. Sole custody can give your child the ease to grow up emotionally strong.
Here is what you should know if you are considering sole custody:
You need a compelling reason to get sole custody
You need to know what critical factors can support your eligibility to take sole custody of your child. Presenting yourself as a safe and stable parent can show that you have your child’s best interests in mind.
More importantly, you need to be able to show the court that there are good reasons to take shared custody away from your ex. That can include things like:
- Your co-parent is struggling with addiction: Show if your co-parent has started drinking or drugging as a coping mechanism and is affecting your child. Parents who cope by drinking or drugging are more likely to put their children in unsafe situations. It also presents to your child poor examples of how to manage their emotions.
- Your co-parent is unwilling to support your child’s needs: You can present to the judge if your co-parent has failed to take your child to school or medical appointments on multiple occasions. Your child’s education and health could be at risk if the needs of your child are not met.
- Your co-parent or their current partner has become violent: Domestic violence is harmful to your child’s growth whether they personally experienced it or witnessed it.
There are many factors a judge looks at to see if you should have sole custody of your child. Sole custody is not easy to win, so it pays to have experienced legal guidance as you begin your quest.