Divorce, especially when a child is involved, can be a very emotionally taxing process. You need to figure out your child’s living arrangements (or custody plan) going forward. And this living arrangement must be approved by the court.
As you work out a custody plan, you might think the court will focus solely on the past to arrive at a judgement. However, this is not always the case. Both your past and current life will impact the outcome of your custody case. And one of the issues that will impact your custody case is your dating life.
But why is your love life a big deal during the custody battle?
Well, first of all, it is important to understand that nothing stops you from giving love another shot after ending your marriage. That said, here are two things you need to know about your love life and child custody:
It could raise doubts about your priorities
The best interests of the child are of critical importance when deciding on child custody. During the custody hearing, you will need to explain why you feel you should be the child’s primary custodian. And when romance with someone other than the child’s other parent comes into the picture, your ex and the court might have the impression that your new relationship is more important to you than your child’s best interests.
It could place your child at risk
Social media and news outlets are awash with stories about children who were harmed by their parents’ lovers. Fear of the child’s well-being can prompt your co-parent to question your judgement. This is especially true if your purported lover has a criminal background or is a registered sex offender.
Child custody can be heavily contested during the divorce. Find out how you can safeguard your child’s best interests during a custody battle.