If you are wondering if you should fight for sole custody after your divorce, a lot depends on the motivations behind it. If you want to fight for custody as a way of retaliating against your ex, it’s probably not the best idea. However, if you have concerns about your ex’s ability to parent, then it might be best to seek sole custody. Think about your children’s schedules as well and what type of custody will give them the most consistency. There can be harmful effects if your children are close to their other parents and suddenly don’t get to see them anymore. But if you have any concerns about their safety, then sole custody might be in their best interest. Hopefully, you and your ex can find the solution that works best for you and your children.
Should I Fight for Sole Custody? When Sole Custody is Appropriate
What’s the Motivation?
The motivation behind wanting to fight for sole custody is an important thing to consider. Divorces can be bitter and long, and create a lot of resentment. If that resentment is the reason you want to seek sole custody, you might want to think again. You need to put aside your feelings and think about what’s in your children’s best interests. No matter how difficult the divorce was, if your ex is a good parent, your children deserve to have them in their lives.
Your Children’s Schedules
A major consideration when deciding if you want to fight for sole custody is your children’s schedules. Kids thrive on consistency. Therefore, the more reliable schedule you can give them the better. You and your ex need to try to work together to keep their wake times, sleep times, mealtimes, and activities as similar as possible. If you don’t think your ex is capable of this, then maybe sole custody is a good idea. For example, if your ex doesn’t have a stable living environment or schedule, then that could be difficult for your kids.
Repercussions
It’s important to think through the decision about whether to fight for sole custody carefully. This is a big deal. There can be harmful effects on children if they are separated from a parent. Especially if they are close with both of their parents. Often, kids start acting out or displaying other behavioral issues when they are going through such big changes. If you do seek sole custody, make sure to get your children the support they need. For example, a child therapist or psychologist.
Safety Concerns
If you have any safety concerns about your children with your ex, then it’s a good idea to fight for sole custody. For example, if there are substance abuse problems or mental illnesses that make them unreliable. Or if their living environment is chaotic or unsafe for children. Sole custody doesn’t just mean the physical custody of children. You will also be the sole decider in all decisions for them, for things like medical questions, schooling, and anything else that comes up. So if you have concerns about your ex’s ability to make those kinds of decisions, then it might be appropriate to seek sole custody.
The decision to fight for sole custody is a big one and one that needs a lot of consideration. If you do win sole custody you will be responsible for making all legal decisions for your children. Make sure that your motivation for seeking sole custody is in the kids’ best interest. Not a way of getting back at your ex. Consider your kids’ schedules when coming up with a plan. And keep in mind that children need consistency in their lives. Think things through carefully as there can be harmful effects of children losing one of their parents. However, if you have safety concerns then it might be in your kids’ best interest to seek sole custody. They need a safe and stable environment. Hopefully, you and your family can find the custody arrangement that suits you best, and your children can adapt quickly.