The end of your marriage does not mean that it ends your ability to be an active and involved parent for your child. A divorce can change many different aspects of your relationship with your child, but it does not mean that you lose your desire to play an active role in his or her life. In fact, you may want to have a part in making important decisions for your child, or you may believe that you should solely retain this right.
Legal custody is the right of a parent to make important decisions for the child, such as those pertaining to religious upbringing, medical care and more. Even if you think that the other parent should remain in the life of your child, that does not necessarily mean he or she should have the ability to make important decisions without your input or final say. It may be helpful to learn more about when a court may grant sole legal custody.
The benefits of sole legal custody
If you have legal custody of your child, you will be able to make decisions without seeking the input of another person. However, a court will not necessarily grant sole legal custody just because you and the other parent do not get along or you don’t want to work together. In order to secure it, there must be evidence that the parent is unable to effectively make decisions for the child on his or her own.
Sole legal custody is typically only effective in situations in which the other parent is absent from the child’s life or is unable to make decisions. It may also be beneficial in situations in which the parents live a long distance apart, or it is impractical or impossible for the two of them to confer on important decisions for the child.
Seeking the best interests of your child
Regardless of why a parent wants sole custody, a Nebraska family court will prioritize the best interests of the child above all else. If you believe that seeking sole legal custody will help your child’s quality of life and continuity of lifestyle after your divorce, you will benefit from learning how you can build a strong case to bring before the judge. Due to the sensitive and potentially complex nature of custody cases, you may find it helpful to seek legal guidance before you proceed.