When going through divorce nearly every issue can seem like it is of critical importance. This isn’t far-fetched, either, especially given that the result of these divorce legal issues can shape your life for years to come. While property division and other financial matters like child support and alimony can weigh heavy on you, we find that people who have children are often most concerned about their child custody and visitation arrangement.
You might be able to work amicably with your child’s other parent to negotiate a resolution that is fair and acceptable to everyone, but this isn’t always the case. Even if it is, you might eventually find that the arrangement no longer works for you and your child. In these instances, you need to be prepared to show why your proposed arrangement supports your child’s best interests. After all, that’s what a court will focus on when making a decision on these matters.
As such, you need to be prepared with evidence showing why your child’s other parent isn’t as suitable to care for your child. While there are many ways to do this, there are some issues that can be especially powerful in proving your point. One of them is domestic violence.
Domestic violence can have a massive impact on your child and his or her wellbeing. Children who are exposed to domestic violence can experience:
- Anxiety and depression
- Aggressive behaviors
- Increased risk of abuse
- Fear of abandonment
- Excessive worry or guild over an inability to protect the victim
Additionally, parents who are involved in domestic violence may be less in tune with their children, making them less able to identify the issues their children are facing. This may lead to emotional detachment and even danger when cues of mental instability go ignored.
This is just one of the many issues you can present to a court when seeking a custody or modification of custody that best protects your child. So, to ensure that you argue as strongly as you can for what you see as the best arrangement for your child, be prepared with compelling evidence to support your position, regardless of whether it appears that you’re merely attacking the other parent.