5 Suggestions for Child Custody Reform

Child custody is important for any family. It can be a heartbreaking and emotionally-charged process that requires careful consideration from all parties.

It is vital to have laws in place to protect children, but in the United States, domestic relations law has lagged behind social changes in recent decades.

There are no major changes on the horizon, and because of this, it’s time to take matters into our own hands.

Since our country has failed to make progress on this issue, we must act as individuals.

It is important to keep in mind that the laws regarding child custody are completely made-up by a judge at the time of custody hearing.

This dispute process is subjective, and judges seldom hear the best interest of the child when making decisions.

Child custody is a crucial aspect of parenting. The child’s welfare and development depend on it.

This is why it is important to make sure that the child has a safe and nurturing environment so that they can thrive in their new home.

This can be achieved by keeping the child with both parents. While this may be problematic for one parent, this is no reason to prevent the other parent from having access to their child.

A family court judge, on the other hand, can make an objective decision between the two parents and ensure that they provide a stable and nurturing home to their child.

When looking at child custody laws, it should be noted that there are certain advantages to keeping the child together with both parents.

It has been shown that children who live with two parents have better educational and standardized test scores, social development and academic success.

If you have any questions regarding child custody or family law issues, consult with an experienced attorney who is familiar with family laws.

Recommendations for Reforming Child Custody:

Do not allow the child to see both parents equally. Allow visitation with the custodial parent first, and then let the other parent see their children.

This will raise children with higher levels of confidence and self-esteem. Allow children to be raised by both parents equally so that they do not feel like they are losing one parent over the other.

Imagine your child not having a relationship with either of you because you are fighting over custody.

1. Take Domestic Disputes out of the Courtroom:

Labelling domestic disputes as “family court” does not give judges the authority to make decisions for all people. Our system of justice should be able to handle disputes between people, not between parents and children.

Therefore, it is unjust for the family court to have power over social issues that fall outside of its jurisdiction.

In order to correct this, it is important that we remove cooperation and collaboration from the Courtroom. Domestic disputes should be settled outside of the Courtroom.

2. Institute Mandatory Parenting Classes in Child Custody Disputes:

Mandatory parenting classes in child custody disputes should be implemented so that divorcing couples can learn how to make the transition from together to separate easier for their children.

Too often, parents become engulfed in the dispute and forget about the needs of their children.

By taking a step back and looking at the situation from the child’s perspective, parents can see that their own egos and hate for their ex can affect the future well-being of their children.

3. Require Follow-up Reports from Divorced Parents:

Child custody disputes between divorcing parents should be monitored for a set amount of time in order to ensure that children are not being harmed by their parents in any way, shape, or form.

Requiring follow-up reports will make sure that the welfare of children is protected and that they are not neglected or abused by their parents.

4. Eliminate Flight Risks:

A flight risk is someone that does not want to be with one of the parents and will, for any reason, try to leave them out of their child’s life.

This is a very dangerous situation, as the parent that is left out will have no control over the welfare and development of their child. Right now, all divorcing parents are required to pay child support.

This has created a flight risk for the custodial parent and has forced them to move away from the children in order to protect them. There is no reason why there cannot be exceptions made for voluntary divorce.

There should be penalties for parents that choose this path, such as jail time and not receiving child support payments.

5. Appoint a Trusted Guardian ad Litem:

There is a very high chance that a child custody dispute will be in regard to domestic violence. It has become standard practice for judges to appoint a guardian ad litem when there is an allegation of domestic violence.

This guardian will act as an expert on the topic and will make sure that the best interests of the victim are at hand.

However, this only applies when there is a court-ordered appointment. There should be a way for domestic violence victims to easily get this protection.

Every parent should have the freedom to file their own protective orders against their abusers, and the guardian ad litem should be appointed by the judge without any outside influence.

Conclusion:

A judge’s decision in a child custody dispute should be based on fact rather than their own subjective opinions. Judges should do what is best for the children, not just keep them with only one parent.

Domestic disputes should be handled by lawyers rather than judges, or else we will continue to see cases where children are used in warfare.

In order to end this injustice and make the world a better place for our children, we must work together to change child custody laws in the United States of America.

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