You may have recently incurred unexpected issues with your health. But we understand that your health complications in no way minimize the love you have for your child and your desire to take care of them. This is why we will work on your behalf to fight for the most ideal outcome for your child custody order. Follow along to find out how a parent’s physical or mental health might affect a custody arrangement and how a proficient Morristown child custody lawyer at Graves Andrews, LLC can help you achieve rights over your child.
How does a parent’s physical or mental health affect the upbringing of a child?
Unfortunately, we have seen many cases in which one spouse throws the other spouse’s health complications in their face during a child custody battle. With that being said, to win sole physical and legal custody over your child, your former spouse may argue the following:
- Your former spouse may argue that your physical health affects the upbringing of your child in the following ways:
- Your prescription medication may inhibit you from having enough energy to shop, cook, or otherwise perform domestic services for your child.
- Your use of handicapped equipment may inhibit you from playing with your child, transporting your child to school and other mandatory events, etc.
- Your need to attend regular doctor’s appointments may inhibit you from having time to attend your child’s extracurricular activities or otherwise spend quality time with them.
- Your former spouse may argue that your mental health affects the upbringing of your child in the following ways:
- Your unpredictability with your mental illness may cause you to create an erratic routine and unsafe home environment for your child.
- Your inconsistency with your mental illness may cause you to neglect your child in their moments of need.
- Your need to treat your mental illness may cause you to leave to attend a full-time mental institution.
Does a parent’s physical or mental health affect a child custody arrangement?
Rest assured, the New Jersey family court may not simply write off your opportunity for child custody rights simply because you have a physical or mental health concern. This is because the court may view the best arrangement for your child to be one in which they maintain a relationship with both you and your former spouse.
So say, for instance, that you have a temporary yet serious physical or mental health complication. Well, in this case, the court may favor a short-term child custody arrangement with reversible changes. This is so you may focus on reaching a full health recovery before you take on the responsibility of caring for your child part-time.
You must not stand idly by if you are not happy with the child custody arrangement that has come to fruition. Rather, you must retain the services of a talented Morristown family law attorney. Contact Graves Andrews, LLC today.
