If you decide to fight over custody in New Jersey, you may believe that the end goal you have in mind is to find the best solution for your child. That’s a great point of view, as the child’s best interests need to be respected, but it’s important to realize that custody battles may not actually be best for the child. In fact, you may only be interested in the battle because you want what is best for you.
Going through the process can sometimes be detrimental to the child in a number of ways:
— You may end up spending money in court that could have been used to pay for your child to go to college. In such situations, seeking guidance from a knowledgeable New Jersey family lawyer is crucial to navigate legal complexities efficiently.– You may make the conflict in the family worse.– You could cause your ex not to trust you, putting extra distance between you.– This could make it harder for the two of you to co-parent, which is usually what you need to do after a split.
This isn’t to say that you should not fight for your rights. You and your spouse may have a right to be in the child’s life, and this needs to be respected. Likewise, there are situations where sole custody is best for the child—such as when your ex is abusive.
However, it is simply important to look at what the end goal really is during the custody proceedings. Parents always need to do what they can to make life as good as possible for the child, even if they have to compromise. Be sure you understand how this outlook plays into your legal options.
Source: The Huffington Post, “Parents Should Think Twice Before Engaging in a Custody Battle Over Their Children,” Mark Baer, Nov. 10, 2015
