Sole custody agreements are legal contracts that give one parent full legal and physical control of their child or children. Most of the time, one parent gets sole custody because the other is deemed unfit or unable to care for the child. The phrase “sole custody” is a general term that can mean either “sole physical custody,” “sole legal custody,” or both. You may also hear the term “full custody” used for sole custody. If one parent has exclusive legal custody, he or she can make key choices regarding the kid without consulting the other. This involves medical treatment, education, religious culture, and moral growth decisions. Here are seven reasons why a parent might want sole custody of their child:
7 Reasons to Get Sole Custody
1. Abuse or Lack of Care
If one parent has abused or neglected the child or the other parent in the past, the court may give sole custody of the child to the other parent to keep the child safe and healthy. The court could also give the abusive parent a restraining order in domestic violence cases.
2. Misuse of Drugs
If one parent has trouble with drug or alcohol addiction, the court may decide that living with that parent is not in the child’s best interest. In this case, the other parent may get sole custody of the child, and the addicted parent may have to go through a drug or alcohol rehab program before seeing the child again.
3. Mental Illness
If one parent has a severe mental illness that makes it hard to care for the child, the court may give sole custody to the other parent. But if the parent can show that they are getting the right kind of help and can keep the child safe and stable, they may be able to keep some custody of the child.
4. Incarceration
If one parent is in jail, they may be unable to give their child a safe place to live. Depending on the severity of the crime and the risk it poses to the child, the other parent may be given sole custody, and the parent in jail may be allowed to see the child under supervision.
5. Geographic Distance
If one parent lives a long way from where the child lives most of the time, it may be best for the child to have one parent has sole custody. This arrangement can help keep the child’s life stable and consistent and keep school and social activities from getting in the way as much as possible.
6. Abandonment
If one parent has left the child or hasn’t been in regular contact with them, the other parent may get sole custody. But if the absent parent can show they care about their child again and give them a stable and loving home, they may get some custody back.
7. Unwillingness to Co-Parent
If one parent can’t or won’t work with the other parent to make important decisions about raising the child, the court may give sole custody to the parent who is more responsible and willing to work with the other parent. But courts usually like it when parents are involved in their children’s lives and can work together to make crucial decisions.
Conclusion
Ultimately, sole custody agreements are usually made when one parent can’t or won’t give the child a safe and stable place to live. But when it’s possible, courts prefer joint custody arrangements because they think kids should have both parents involved in their lives. If you want sole custody of your child, you should talk to a family law attorney who can help you through the process and help you make the best decisions for your family.
