Does Sole Custody Affect Child Support and Parental Rights? I have sole custody of my two children as per our divorce decree, including control over visitation.
Their mother, who has been dealing with significant mental health issues for years, has recently resurfaced. She’s asserting that she still has the right to see the children and be involved in their lives. I’m unsure if she retains any legal parental rights. Before I consult with my lawyer, I want to understand if she has any legal standing.
The children are old enough that their preferences need to be considered.
Any parent who actively supports the complete alienation of the other parent and denies them contact is causing serious harm to their child(ren), both now and in the future. You might believe you’re justified by the court order you fought for, claiming it’s in the child’s best interest, but the truth is, you’re acting out of narcissism. You don’t care about their mother (perhaps you never did), you ignore what the children want, and it’s more convenient for you to avoid paying child support. You might even have a new partner and prefer to replace their mother rather than deal with her.
Don’t try to deny it. Your attorneys are equally at fault for helping you undermine a woman and child(ren). Your lack of genuine love and compassion means you’re failing to teach your children important values. They’re likely to struggle with attachment issues throughout their lives due to your selfishness. You might think you’ve won, but your child(ren) have lost. It’s troubling to see you seek validation here to justify your actions.
You come across as an incredible dad who has endured a lot. Your kids are fortunate to have you, and I’m confident you’ll keep shielding them from their mother’s instability.
Since you have sole custody and control over visitation, it seems you hold full physical custody. You decide if and when she can see the children. Save your money on legal fees and let her handle it. Start keeping detailed records of everything. While it’s reasonable for her to seek another chance, make it clear that you won’t accept inconsistencies in her involvement.
Usually, it depends on how much each parent earns. It also relies on the legislation of your state. Where I reside, it’s all about how much each parent earns. If the parent with sole custody earns much more than the other parent, the other parent is usually not required to pay child support and may even receive it if they have any visitation at all. However, if both parents earn roughly the same amount of money, the other parent is normally required to pay child support to the parent with sole custody.