[ad_1]
Before a permanent custody and visitation order is issued it is common to have a temporary custody and visitation order issued. Parents may agree to visitation schedules and other restrictions that they would not agree to if the order were going to be permanent. But what does “temporary” really mean. Here’s what you need to know.
The fact of the matter is that when parents first get started in a child custody and visitation case they can get lulled into a false sense of security. They want to make things a simple. Pleasant and easy as possible. They want to play nice and words like “temporary” are taken at face value. Parents are willing to agree to actions that they wouldn’t agree to if the order were permanent, (like moving out, and taking the child only on the weekend) until a full hearing can be held.
The potential problem that they run into is that the final order could easily be 12, 18, or even 24 months away. If you end up with a custody battle you could end up going through a preliminary hearing, then mediation, then a Judicial conference, extended evaluation, and on and on.
By the time you get 12 months down the road your temporary order has not only cost you a year of time with your child, but it also begins to look like a model for the permanent order. The word “temporary” can be very deceiving.
When it comes to custody battles you are far better off to set yourself up for success from the very start. Make sure that any temporary order contains your most important elements. Make sure that your life is arranged to reasonably accommodate your “temporary” visitation and custody requests.
Remember that even the most amicable of custody arrangements can turn into a disaster if the wrong buttons are pushed (new boyfriend, girlfriend, mutual friends fraternizing with the other side, etc). Once those buttons are pushed there is no turning back so get it off to a good start.
Recent Comments