How will a new partner affect child custody? What happens when one of the parents involved in shared parenting starts to date or even gets serious about a potential partner? Child custody and parenting time issues can be quite challenging at times. My name is John Schmidt, and after more than 25 years as a child custody and family law attorney based in Shepherdsville I can tell you these situations can be a bit challenging.
In many cases, it is simply a discussion between parents who are focused on the best interests of their child and how to limit the impact of adult relationships on each child’s life. However, I have also helped clients work through disagreements, child custody, and parenting time issues relating to introducing a new partner for one of the former spouses.
How will a new partner affect child custody under Kentucky Family Law? From a legal point of view, the introduction of a new partner for a parent sharing child custody and parenting is not in and of itself a legal issue. However, the presence of that new partner can have a profound effect on the relationship between the parenting parties, as well as the child. It can actually become a legal issue relatively quickly.
The Court will be interested in issues associated with disrupting the child’s environment, especially when these changes affect situational stability or the child’s safety, well-being, and even their continuing development to adulthood. What if the new partner has a criminal background, an addiction, is abusive or presents other challenges that might impact the safety and well-being of any child?
There are a variety of options for a concerned parent in these situations. A change in standing child custody and parenting time orders may be in order. The Court may want to establish a process to evaluate the new partner and the impact of this new partner’s presence on the child’s best interests.
It is normal for parents to move forward with their lives, and seek a new relationship after a divorce. However, one must consider the impact of any new relationship on your role as a parent sharing custody and parenting time. How will a new partner affect child custody, your existing parenting time, and your child’s best interests?
It is essential to be open about these challenges with your new partner. Any new person you bring into your child’s life after a divorce must understand your role in shared parenting, existing boundaries, and the best interests of the child. How do you introduce the new person into the child’s life and activities? How should you approach a conversation with the other parent to discuss the new relationship and how it can and perhaps should be handled? This is especially true surrounding issues such as discipline and extra-curricular activities.
We invite you to contact us via e-mail, schedule an appointment or call us today at (502) 509-1490 to get answers to your questions and to learn more about your unique circumstances and how to protect what is most important to you in your family law case.
