On behalf of The Law Office of Gustavo E. Frances, P.A.
Divorce is not an easy decision. It usually doesn’t start with waking up one day and deciding that you do not want to be with your partner. Typically issues start to build up, you start to flight a lot, and then you start to fight to the point where you aren’t sure where the relationship is going to go and then you end up separating and filing for divorce. marriage is a complex kind of relationship and it only gets more complex when you start to add children to the mix. Divorcing with children adds extra pressure and stress. Each parent deserves time with their children, but if the divorce is contentious then you can bet that the child custody battles are going to be just as tense.
When custody battles start, each parent is ready to sling whatever they can to discredit the other partner. From domestic violence accusations to using social media against you, people will do anything to keep their kids away from their newly divorced spouse. In fact, Florida courts have dealt with children’s diets as a reason for a parent not being fit. Jeff Nelson-Folkerson was battling for custody of his five kids from his wife who believed in providing her children with a strict vegan diet. It wasn’t just the diet that was extreme though. The wife refused to let the kids see her husband’s parents because they owned a leather couch and she feared that her kids would be given animal-based food. The husband used this in court to show how unstable the mother was and how her behavior is detrimental to the kids’ behavior.
The courts were more concerned, not with the diet, but if the wife would be able to supply the children with food at all. Florida courts have wide discretion on choosing which parent is eligible for custody and who is eligible for visitation. The court’s focus is on who would the child most benefit from financially and morally. Who will give them a safe place to live? Who will give them a proper amount of food to eat? Who will nurture them emotionally? These kinds of questions are subjective. This is why it is so important that you hire a child custody lawyer if you plan on divorcing and have children.
The good news is that because the courts are more focused on the well-being of the child, they do not discredit fathers from being primary caretakers. Some are still under the belief that mothers usually get custody, but this isn’t’ true anymore. If you are a dad then do not lose hope. If you are a mom you cannot guarantee your position just because you are a mom. The best thing you can do for your fight for your children is to arm yourself with our child custody attorney at The Law Office Of Gustavo E. Frances, P.A. Call 954-533-2756 or click here to start a conversation with our professionals today.
