I have a question about custody and living situations. My coparent is living in a rental property where they rent out rooms to unrelated adults. It’s just one house with shared spaces, and I’m concerned about how this might affect custody decisions, especially for our very young daughter. Does the court take this into consideration when deciding custody?
It really depends on a lot of factors like the age of your kid, the living situation, and the history of the people living there. For a young child, if the adults are responsible, it might not be a big deal. But for an older child, like a 12-year-old, living with strangers could be an issue.
@Dawson
So if my coparent has responsible adults around, it might be okay? What about safety concerns?
Tal said:
@Dawson
So if my coparent has responsible adults around, it might be okay? What about safety concerns?
Yeah, courts usually don’t punish parents for trying their best. If this is all they can afford and they keep the child safe, it should be acceptable.
I get where you’re coming from. My granddaughter’s dad kept her for a weekend, and it turned into a year. Just remember that having an expensive lawyer doesn’t always speed things up. You can actually file for emergency custody without a lawyer.
@Harley
That’s good to know. What should I do first?
Tal said:
@Harley
That’s good to know. What should I do first?
Start by documenting everything. Write down your conversations and any marks you’ve noticed on your child. Reach out to domestic relations or women’s advocacy groups for help.
You might want to consider that he could be trying to protect her too. It’s important to find someone neutral to help with communication.
If he’s unstable, you definitely need a court order for custody. A restraining order might also be something to think about.
You should contact PineTree Legal. They might provide the resources you need.