Child Custody Analysis

Words: 1825
Pages: 8

In the United States, there are a multitude of homes where there is or has been a custody battle. Mothers and fathers have gone head to head fighting for their children, while some mothers and fathers could care less whether or not the other parent accepts responsibility. Mothers have an advantage of being the first one to bond with their children. They retain the opportunity to spend the first nine months with them and have an experience that no father will understand. Fathers bond with their children on an entirely different level. They are their protectors and providers that allow them to have peace of mind from the first time they hold them in their arms. This difference in bonding between mother and father poses a problem for fathers …show more content…
It is these 10% of cases that tend to be decisionally weighted. The court system is relied on for their assistance in determining which parent is going to be the better home for the children or which home will allow for the best interest of the children (Guidelines for Child Custody Evaluations in Family Law Proceedings, 2015). These cases that are determined by a judge are arguably flawed. They are based on a system of what is thought of to be in the best interest of the child. This system is outdated and has no bearing on today’s world where gender norms have changed drastically. The system judges go from are where they are still stating, “best interest of the child”, and is based on a variety of factors. These factors include the child’s physical, emotional, mental, religious, and mental needs (Crowley, 2010). There are certain psychologists that evaluate custody situations, which are also still using this outdated system. What is not included in this outdated system, however is the guideline for “child protection matters” (Guidelines for Child Custody Evaluations in Family Law Proceedings, 2015). Whether it be the mother or the father, neither one should automatically be assumed to be the best choice on who will be the best parent or situation for the children. There are plenty of options in how the custodial parent can be chosen. First is to sit down with the children and ask them about their home life. The children can provide insight into how they feel in relation to each home. The second is to schedule a home visit with a Guardian at Litam. The Guardian at Litam will visit each home and determine which home is best suitable for the children. They will let the court, attorneys, and caseworker know which home they feel is best suitable for the children’s best interest. The third way to determine which home is better for