Divorce is always ugly. Ending a jointly built life is always going to be complicated. But, it is even worse if you have children. Add on top of that, an alcoholic parent, and you have an explosive mixture of emotions and impaired judgment. Unfortunately, thousands of couples divorce every month because one or both spouses were unable to address their substance abuse issues. In that reality, how do you protect your children from the ugly truth? This post will go over how you can try to protect your kids.
If your ex-partner has an alcohol abuse issue, the problem can proceed in two ways. First, he could admit it, and the court accepts it as fact. The court then renders a decision based on the information.
Second, she could deny it, in which case you need to substantiate your allegation. In these situations, you may want an attorney because it won’t be easy airing your ex-partner’s life before the court. You can submit a wide range of evidence to prove that she has a drinking problem from videos and photographs to testimony.
The court will review the issue in light of what is best for the child. The court believes that the involvement of both parents is best for the child, but that presumption is overcome if there is substantial evidence that one parent could be a danger to the child.
If you are engaged in a child custody dispute, then you may want to speak to an attorney. As stated above, the court makes its rulings based on what is in the best interests of the child. If the court determines that your ex-partner’s alcoholism is a danger to the children, it is possible that the court could end joint custody or severely restrict visitation time. A lawyer can help you gather evidence and craft arguments to protect your children. These outcomes aren’t guaranteed but it is possible.
