Child Custody and Third Parties
... In child custody cases, it almost always happens that one or the other parent is granted physical custody of the child -- i.e., the court determines that the child will live with one of the parents, and that that parent will have the right to establish and supervise the child's daily routines. However, in special circumstances, third parties may become involved. This usually comes about in two manners. First, the court may grant custody of the child to a third party to begin with. Perhaps neither parent is considered suitable to continue raising the child -- if both are substance abusers for instance, or have criminal records -- and there ... child's best interest, may petition the court for custody. All judges must act in what they perceive to be the best interests of the child. In this regard, they must not favor either a father or a mother, at least not theoretically, though many would argue that there is still a bias toward granting physical custody to the mother. However, a parent is definitely favored over a nonparent in custody cases, so a third party seeking custody must present solid evidence. The judge must determine the fitness of a parent to raise the child. Different U.S. states may emphasize different aspects of parental fitness, but child ...
Tags: third party | child custody | third parties | child custody cases | granted physical custody | custody cases |
Tags: third party | child custody | third parties | child custody cases | granted physical custody | custody cases |