It is possible. Connecticut judges will award sole custody if such an arrangement is in the child’s best interest.
Sole custody also referred to as full custody may be awarded if the other parent is unable or unwilling to participate meaningfully in decisions affecting the child. It may also be granted to one parent if the other parent has exhibited certain behavior, which indicates that he or she is unfit or lacks good parental judgment.
These examples include:
- 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.
A parent with sole custody and decision making authority may act unilaterally when it comes to issues concerning the child’s health, education, religion and overall welfare. They can but they need not seek the input of the other parent.
However, this does not mean that the other parent will be completely out of 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 cases involving children result in some form of joint decision making. But when it is in the child’s best interest, judges in Connecticut will order a different parenting plan.
Stamford & Fairfield Sole Custody Attorney
I represent clients in Connecticut Family Court proceedings though out Fairfield County including Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Trumbull, Stratford, Bridgeport, Westport, Weston, New Canaan, Wilton, Norwalk, Darien, Stamford and Greenwich.
Contact me online or call my Fairfield office at (203) 259-5251 or my Stamford office at (203) 356-1475 if you have questions about a Connecticut sole custody case.