When parents with children decide to divorce, a judge has to approve the child custody agreement. As long as the child is a minor, the judge will retain jurisdiction over their upbringing. This may surprise parents who think that they can craft their own permanent agreement with a Custody Lawyer in Warrenton. Because circumstances can change in adult’s lives, a judge always should be able determine if these changes are in the best interest of the child.
Today’s blended families can pose special challenges for the non-custodial parent. A father may have had no trouble with the mother having sole custody of their daughter. He was happy with the visitation schedule and everything was going smoothly. However, when the mother started dating a man seriously, the father grew concerned. He became even more wary when the father and his teenage son moved in with his ex-wife and daughter.
His Custody Lawyer in Warrenton suggested that he hire a private investigator to look into the background of the man and his son. It turns out that the son has several charges for assault on women. Needless to say the father was not happy about his proximity to his daughter. When the wife refused to take the situation seriously, the Custody Lawyer in Warrenton petitioned the court to give the father sole custody.
The judge held a hearing where all of the adults and their lawyers were present. He had to determine if the mother’s home continued to be a safe environment for the daughter. In fact, that was his only concern. The importance of a relationship between the adults did not come into consideration. When the judge changed the custody agreement giving the father sole custody, he also found that the mother had to pay child support and lost her monthly alimony.
The father’s Custody Lawyer in Warrenton played an active role in crafting the new parenting agreement. Because the new boyfriend and son continued to live in the mother’s house, the daughter was not allowed to spend the night. The mother was also not allowed to leave her alone in the house.
