Many parents going through a divorce or custody battle initially seek sole custody. But is sole custody in your child’s best interest? And what does sole custody really mean?
Sole custody may be awarded to one parent if the other parent has exhibited certain behavior, which indicates that he or she is unfit to share custody and participate meaningfully in decisions affecting the child.
These include, but are not limited to:
- Domestic violence between the parents;
- Other displays of violence or inability to control anger;
- History of mental health issues;
- Substance abuse;
- Parental alienation;
- Other manipulative behavior such as making false abuse or neglect allegations against the other parent;
- The inability of the parents to agree, cooperate and communicate in important matters relating to the child.
However, sole custody does not mean that the other parent will be completely uninvolved in the child’s life.
In all but the most extreme of cases, the judge will set a visitation schedule for the non-custodial parent. This prevents the custodial parent from unilaterally deciding when and under what conditions the other parent will spend time with the child.
The majority of custody cases do result in some form of joint legal custody (joint decisionmaking). Sole custody cases are the exception rather than the rule. Nevertheless, when circumstances are such that joint custody is not in the child’s best interest judges in Connecticut will order sole custody.
Please contact me to discuss sole custody in Connecticut.