There are a lot of considerations that go into a child custody determination. Among them are the child’s relationship with each parent, each parent’s physical and mental health, and any potential exposure to parental substance abuse.
Any one of these characteristics can have a tremendous impact on your child, but this week we want to take a closer look at another relevant factor: exposure to domestic violence.
How exposure to domestic violence impacts children
Sadly, domestic violence is all too common, with as many as one out of four women and one out of nine men being subjected to it. And all too often, children are caught in the middle of these disputes. This can put your kids at risk of the following:
- Increased risk of being abused or neglected
- Development of anxiety
- Onset of post-traumatic stress disorder
- Physical symptoms, such as headaches and stomach aches
- Demonstration of aggressive behavior
- Declining school performance
- Long-term depression
As you can see, exposure to domestic violence can have a tremendous impact on your child. That’s why if you think that your kid is being exposed to domestic violence in the other parent’s home, then you should consider taking legal action to modify custody to restrict the other parent’s access to your child.
Seek the modification that protects your child
To succeed on a motion to modify an existing custody order, you’re going to need to present evidence as to why such a change is in your child’s best interests. You’ll also have to demonstrate that the change constitutes a substantial change in circumstances.
Therefore, before you file anything with the court, make sure that you have evidence to back up your claim. You might be able to find this evidence in police reports and witness statements. You’ll just need to be as diligent as possible so that you can maximize your chances of securing the outcome that keeps your child safe.
