THING THAT COMMONLY AFFECTS CUSTODY CASES . . .
. . . THE BAD DUDE (OR DUDE-ETTE)! In custody cases, it often comes up that there is some person in one parent's world that the other parent doesn't want the child around. It might be creepy uncle Joe who one parent confided to the other molested them when they were a young child. Perhaps it's a boyfriend or girlfriend who occasionally stays overnight at the other parent's house who happens to have a recent criminal history with multiple felonies. Often it is someone who to the child is a grandparent, sibling, step-sibling, or a partner of the parent. And the issue with the person involves matters of a physically abusive, pervy, or druggy behavior, and/or a criminal history. Nine times out of Ten if the parent says I don't want my kid under the same roof with that person, the Court will order it so. Visitation may be conditioned on that person not being there, or it may result in less custody time down the road if the person continues to be around the child. Sometimes relationships or extended families are busted up over this sort of situation. The Judge often views it as "Don't choose your person over this kid, or you won't see your kid much." Right or wrong or valid or not, this is how it goes; so know that if you are in or about to be in Court on a custody situation. And if the concern is valid, it is of course understandable why the other parent doesn't want their child left alone with or even around that person. April of 2020 makes 20 years that I have been a practicing attorney. So while this may be opinion, it is based on my experience as a family-law attorney over the past few decades. This is not a political post; I am simply aiming to educate the public of how things go in the Oklahoma family law Court system (while doing a bit of self-promotion as well). Joel Mitchell, Attorney-at-Law Joel K. Mitchell, Attorney-at-Law MITCHELL LAW OFFICE, P.C. 1318 W Main St in Collinsville & 1408 S Denver Ave in Tulsa E-mail or Call (918) 230-5844
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AuthorJoel K. Mitchell, Attorney |