These are the reasons why a parent’s past relationship with a child is important in Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs, CO – When custody is in dispute, it is the parent who has a better prior relationship with their child who will often have the upper hand. Lawyers should be involved in this process to show that the parent has taken responsibility to keep their child safe and assist with their education and healthcare. This is normally done through various types of evidence such as bills, receipts, invoices, and documentation related to school records and doctor visits. Here are a few different ways that each parent’s past may be relevant during a dispute and affect their custody status.

Consistency in living situations

A judge who is assigned to a custody dispute will usually attempt to minimize disruptions to the child’s life and maintain any existing relationships. Colorado Springs custody lawyers can help the parent show the judge what they have done in the past to care for their child and be involved in their upbringing. A judge may also be reluctant to award any significant amount of custody time to a parent who has not been around, which could change their relationship with the other parent and disrupt social relationships. 

Parents need to meet the best interests of the child

The standard used in custody disputes is related to meeting the child’s best interests. Judges will look to try to do what is best for the child in terms of meeting their necessities and social development going forward from the time the custody dispute happens. This means that a parent who already has a strong and stable relationship with their child has likely been able to provide resources, maintain commitments with their school and daycare, and that they have not had any significant issues with problems like crime or substance abuse. 

A custody dispute related to a divorce can be very disruptive 

Colorado Springs divorce lawyers will attempt to help a person get through their divorce as efficiently as possible. However, when two married parents separate, this can always stress a child and strain their relationships with everyone, including their parents. In most cases, a judge will attempt to award custody jointly so that both parents can maintain their existing relationships. It is also possible that one parent will receive much more custody time if it seems that they have a greater investment in raising the child. Another potential way for disruptions to be minimized is if the couple can come to a settlement and create their own parenting plan that can be approved by the judge.  

Additional advice about custody issues in Colorado Springs

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