Child Custody Disputes

One of the things to think long and hard about before filing a divorce is the way that it will impact your children and how you may feel if you don’t have primary custody.  It can be a very empty feeling when you recognize that your children will no longer be waking up under your roof. This is why the matter of child custody is such a sensitive subject, and in many cases it is the divorce term that parents have the hardest time reaching an agreement on.

The laws that govern child custody can be found in Title 43, Section 109 & 112 of the Oklahoma Statutes. The statute assets that the state will proceed in a manner that places the well being of the children above all else, and the court will do everything possible to lessen any emotional trauma the children may experience. It should be mentioned that there is no inherent bias toward either parent should the court have to settle a child custody dispute.

Though it is easy to understand how a parent could be passionate about child custody, child custody disputes that make it all the way to court are rare. Both parents are entitled to spend significant time with their children, and in the state of Oklahoman many parents participate in a shared custody arrangement rather than a strict one-sided custody/visitation dynamic.

Fortunately, most parents have the best interests of their children at heart. In the vast majority of cases full engagement by both parents is going to be best for the children, and divorcing couples usually recognize this and act accordingly.

However, in those limited cases when a child custody dispute cannot be resolved by the parties involved it will indeed be up to the court to make a final custody determination.

For legal advice regarding child custody disputes, contact a Lawton OK family attorney to arrange for a free consultation.