Why Might a Mother Lose Custody in Florida?
The United States’ family courts are notorious for granting a majority of custody to mothers, but every once and awhile, they will determine that the mom is not in fact a good role model for the child, or even that the mom is unfit. When this happens, the courts may terminate the mother’s custody and place the child in the sole custody of the father or another fit guardian. Such a scenario is rare, however, because the mother has to do something extreme and that puts the child at danger in order to lose parenting rights. At the Law Offices of Schwartz | White, our family law attorneys always strive to help our clients obtain the best custody arrangement for their children. If you are the father of your child and you believe that the mother is not a fit parent, reach out to our team right away to see how we can help you terminate the mother’s rights and obtain sole custody.
Reasons the Courts Might Terminate a Mother’s Parenting Rights
More courts are starting to look into the negative effects of living with a mother who is abusive, abuses substances, or is mentally unstable. As a result, more and more mothers are starting to lose custody of their children. Below are just three reasons that mothers are having their parenting rights terminated:
- Abuse and Neglect: A mother can lose custody of her children if she herself abuses her children, if she does not take steps to prevent the abuse of her children by a spouse or partner. The abuse does not always have to be physical; it can be emotional, which is just as damaging, or sexual. If a mother does not take steps to learn why she needs to protect her children while they are in the state’s custody, she can permanently lose all parental rights to her children.
- Maternal Substance Abuse: If a mother abuses substances such as drugs, alcohol, or both, her children are more likely to be removed from the home. In fact, a study done by the National Institutes of Health revealed that substance abuse was one of the main reasons that a mother lost custody of her children. The study revealed that mothers who abused substances were typically victimized by domestic violence and histories of being neglected as a child themselves.
- Mother is in the Military Overseas: If a single mother is deployed to a war zone (or a single father), she must have a Family Care Plan in place that spells out the arrangement she has made for her children while she is overseas. This arrangement should designate a person to be responsible for her child/ren while she is on deployment. This person is responsible for caring for the children 24/7, making medical and education decisions, and raising them in general. If the father is still in the picture, the father can file for temporary full custody while the mother is overseas.
If any of these apply to your former spouse, you may be able to obtain full custody of your children. However, it is best to consult with a Boca Raton child custody attorney before pursuing any legal action.
Reach Out to a Boca Raton Child Custody Attorney
If you are a father who believes that you deserve full custody of your child, or if you believe that your child’s mother is an unfit parent, reach out to the Boca Raton child custody attorneys at the Law Offices of Schwartz | White at 561-391-9943 today. We can help you assess your and your child’s mother’s situations and determine the best way to pursue sole custody.
Resource:
ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797(98)00017-8/abstract?cc=y=
