Common Myths About Child Custody Disputes

 If you are going through a divorce and have children, you may be preparing for the child custody battles. There are many people who are misinformed about the child custody disputes, which is why they end up losing. 

There are certain myths about custody agreements that parents commonly believe. When you do not have a good understanding of the details of the process, you end up making a grave mistake. This is why it is important to retain a Lehi family law attorney to make sure everything goes smoothly. 

Common myths about child custody disputes 

• The mother is the favored custodial parent. 

One of the most popular misconceptions in Lehi is that the mother is automatically always favored when it comes to child custody matters. This generally derives from past norms where the mother stayed at home to take care of the kids while the father went to work to earn money. 

However, the times have changed, and there is no difference between the role of a father and a mother anymore. Now, courts look at different factors before awarding custody and focus mostly on the child’s best interests. 

• The spouses need to go to court if there is a disagreement. 

If you and your spouse cannot seem to arrive at a decision you agree upon, you do not necessarily need to go to court. There are various ways of settling your divorce outside the court, such as mediation, informal negotiations, and arbitration. Perhaps mediation is one of the best methods as it involves a third party suggesting solutions. They look out for your child’s best interests as well as keep you and your spouse’s wishes in mind. 

• A child has all the say in custodial matters. 

It is true that the court looks out for the child’s best interests and considers the child’s wishes. However, courts do not make decisions solely based on what the child wants. 

This is because when a child is too young, they are not mature enough to make a decision like this for themselves. They may choose the parent who spoils them with snacks and gifts over the one who is more capable of raising them. Therefore, the judge looks at several factors. 

• The custodial parent can move with the kids anytime they want. 

Just because one parent has custody does not mean they have the right to relocate your child anytime and anywhere they want. Both the parents must abide by the terms of the custody agreement. If one parent is to relocate, they must seek a modification of the agreement. From here, the court decides whether the move will be good for the child or not.