When you're deciding the custody of your children as you and your spouse are going through a divorce, you'll commonly want to assess a number of things about each of you. For example, if one person travels a lot, it might make sense for the other to have custody of the children. Or, if one person has a lot of instability in his or her life, the other parent taking responsibility for the children may be in their best interest. It's important to broaden your thought process and also consider the family members of each spouse. Here are some family-related details that may have an effect on how you decide to pursue your custody agreement.
Physical Availability
Assess whether one spouse's family members are more physically available than those of the other. For example, if one spouse's parents and sibling(s) live just a few minutes away, compared to the other spouse's family living in a different state, the former spouse's family members are more physically available. They'll be able to help with caring for the children when the parent has other engagements, and the presence of cousins for the children to play with can also be appealing.
Emotional Availability
The emotional availability of the family is another factor to consider. This term relates to the relationship that the family members have with the children. There may be a stronger bond between the children and the family members of one spouse over the other. In the difficult time of a divorce, you want to feel confident that either spouse's family members will listen to your children, understand their needs, and go to considerable lengths to ease them through this process. It may be clear, as you look at your two families, that one family is better suited in this area.
Positive Influence
You may also be able to see that the family members of either you or your spouse will be a better influence than the other family members. Try to assess this topic neutrally. Remember, it isn't a contest and the well-being of your children is at stake. For example, if your sibling has children who are a little older than yours and who are into drugs or have had brushes with the law, and your sibling's nieces and nephews are honor students who are involved in a number of healthy extra-curricular activities, it's not a stretch to assume that your spouse's family would be more of a positive influence. This could make you lean toward your spouse getting custody.
For more information, contact someone like Scott Lyons Attorney at Law.
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