What Factors Play Into A Judge’s Decision For Child Custody After Divorce?

Family Court Lawyer in Suffolk County NY

In all cases of divorce, the judges use what is known as the “best interest of the child” standard for settling custody disputes. To determine what is best on a case by case basis, judges tend to take certain aspects into account. At Flowers Law Group, we have helped many parents win custody disputes. Our family court lawyer in Suffolk County NY, knows which factors a judge will focus on, and will help build your case to achieve a favorable outcome.

Your Living Situation

Unsurprisingly, your living situation following a divorce will have a direct impact on a judge’s custody decision. At times, the spouse that stays in the family home is awarded custody to keep stability in a child’s life. Additionally, parents in between permanent housing will have a difficult time gaining primary custody. Other factors regarding your living situation that are considered usually include some of the following:

• The proximity of your home to your spouse’s.
• The location of your child’s school in comparison to your home.
• In some cases, the ability to transport your child to sporting and social events will also be taken into consideration.

Cooperation Between Spouses

Our family court lawyer in Suffolk County NY, recommends that even if you now have bad blood with your spouse, you should always do your best to cooperate with them. Parents who bad mouth their spouse in front of their child or interfere with visitation will limit their chances of securing a favorable outcome. When trying to win a custody dispute, showing you are cooperative will show that you care more about the well being of your child then you do about your dispute with your partner. It will lead to a more favorable result for all parties involved.

Assessment Of Stability

One of the main goals of judges who oversee custody disputes will be to keep a child’s life as stable as possible. To help secure a favorable custody outcome, our family court lawyer will help show the courts that the major aspects of your life will not change following a divorce. 

Additional Factors

Since the well-being of the child will take precedence in a judge’s decision for custody, many factors will need to be considered so the best outcome can be reached. Additional factors that will be looked at by a judge usually include:

• The mental and physical health of the parents.
• The wishes of the parents.
• The child’s age.
• The number of children involved in the dispute.

Flowers Law Group – Family Court Lawyer in Suffolk County NY

When the matter of custody disputes arise in a divorce case, the team at Flowers Law Group knows it will always be a parent’s top priority. To build a winning custody case, you’ll need the help of our family court lawyer in Suffolk County, NY. Contact our team today to take the first step in getting your child the outcome they deserve.