questions & answers

Question: I am currently expecting a baby. The father of my baby left me when I was 7 months, but has stated he wants to be in the baby's life. He is a habitual marijuana smoker, heavy drinker, and the people he surrounds himself with are not the kind of influences I want around my child. He moved in with his mom, who keeps a very dirty house and has been in and out of the hospital with MRSA for the last couple of years. I do not feel like he can provde a safe and stable environment for my daughter. He believes he will get joint custody. What actions do I need to take to ensure this does not happen?

Answer: When deciding custody, the court will definitely take into consideration the child's well-being. A court will go to professionals to investigate the dynamics of the family, ensuring that the custody goes to the more responsible parent. However, even with sole custody, the other parent may be granted visitation hours with the child. If this is a worry, it is possible to request these hours to be monitored if the court deems it necessary. http://www.azlawhelp.org/articles_info.cfm?mc=1&sc=1&articleid=68

Question: I am currently expecting a baby. The father of my baby left me when I was 7 months, but has stated he wants to be in the baby's life. He is a habitual marijuana smoker, heavy drinker, and the people he surrounds himself with are not the kind of influences I want around my child. He moved in with his mom, who keeps a very dirty house and has been in and out of the hospital with MRSA for the last couple of years. I do not feel like he can provde a safe and stable environment for my daughter. He believes he will get joint custody. What actions do I need to take to ensure this does not happen?

Answer: When deciding custody, the court will definitely take into consideration the child's well-being. A court will go to professionals to investigate the dynamics of the family, ensuring that the custody goes to the more responsible parent. However, even with sole custody, the other parent may be granted visitation hours with the child. If this is a worry, it is possible to request these hours to be monitored if the court deems it necessary. http://www.azlawhelp.org/articles_info.cfm?mc=1&sc=1&articleid=68