Child Custody Laws

Child custody laws fall under family law, and deals with matters regarding children. In the United States historically, child custody law has favored the mother. In the past men typically lost custody of the children, and or share it with the mothers. Very seldom did fathers gain custody of the children. Usually, something had to be wrong at the mothers household for fathers to receive custody. Many people have come up with reasons why child custody law has favored women considering, dead beat dads, the close bond that mother and child have, the natural parenting instincts of women, or because the courts are run on old values that expect a mother to be home with child.

Fathers rights in custody battles have increased and become more significant in the past few years. Child custody laws began to change because psychologists and social workers decided to offer their view of how divorce can hurt the children. They also displayed the need to focus on the children who should be most important. Children need to have both parents in their lives equally, and studies have proven it necessary. Child custody laws give fathers the opportunity to have a greater impact in the life of their child. Many of the decisions made will be made on a joint basis between mother and father, and create a sense of unity, even in a broken family. Although many states still favor the women in child custody laws, joint custody offers an alternative to having to choose sides. Men should be considered on the same level in child custody law, because they are in essence equal to the mother. However, this is not the case, and fathers have to fight to receive equal rights. Fathers’ rights organizations have worked to fix the equality problem that exists in the United States currently.

Many times the regulations of child custody law make cases get nasty, where both parents will try to make false claims regarding each others sex lives, parenting skills, history of abuse, financial situation, and educational background. In these cases is best to retain a lawyer to weed out the unnecessary issues that digress from the most important issue, the child. In a situation where a parent is unfit to care for a child because of drugs, alcohol, or another abuse, visitation may be granted. Child custody law requires that the parent with custody be stable enough financially, mentally, and physically to take care of the child. Visitation is given on a case by case basis and according to the reason for it may be both monitored or unmonitored. Monitored visits are usually done at a central location with a social worker or a case worker present, and has a set period of time limit. These visits can be given frequently or very seldom, and can be taken away at anytime. Child custody law are designed to resolve issues of separation, divorce, or other reasons, but the most important purposes are to keep the child safe, healthy, and the first priority at all times.