Custody grants a parent the right to have their children live with them. It also confers on her the right to make decisions about the child’s lifestyle, health and welfare.
When courts decide which parent is granted with child custody, they always consider one thing: the best interests of the child. If you find yourself fighting for custody of your child, knowing factors that affect the court’s decision can help you determine your chances of winning your case, says Michael C. Craven, Divorce Lawyers Chicago. Take a look at some of them:
- The child’s age and physical as well as mental condition
- The age and physical as well as mental condition of both parents
- The relationship between every parent and child, focusing on how positive the person’s involvement in the child’s life is
- The ability of the parents to provide for the emotional and intellectual needs of the child along with physical ones as well
- The needs of the child, which includes the special requirements of a special needs child
- The role each parent has had in the child’s upbringing and care and what roles they would have in the future
- How each parent supports the child’s relationship with the other parent. If the other parent has unreasonably denied the other parent visits to the child or make access difficult, those are grounds for complaint.
- The willingness of a parent to maintain a close relationship and connection with the child
- The preference of a child, so long as the child is within reasonable age or demonstrates reasonable intelligence and understanding as well as experience
- If there is any history of abuse of any kind or if your former partner or spouse was abusive, then the court takes that into consideration as well.
Aside from reading up on important factors, make sure you consider legal assistance. By hiring a lawyer with extensive experience in child custody in Chicago, you have a much better chance of winning your case.
