Physical Disability & Child Custody: What You Can Do To Win The Battle

21 September 2015
 Categories: , Blog


If you're physically disabled and entering into a child custody battle, you likely have a number of questions you'd like answered. Below is a general overview of how a physical disability may affect your odds of gaining child custody, what you can do to increase your odds, and how a family law attorney can help.

How Can a Physical Disability Affect My Child Custody Battle?

Your ex may be using your physical disability against you during the custody battle, which can certainly make the battle more difficult, costly, and time-consuming.

When judges look at custody, they consider the best interest of the child. This not only includes who can provide them with shelter, clothing, and food, but who can also best physically and mentally provide for their needs. If your ex is able to paint a picture of you being unable to physically care for your child, you may be in for a bigger battle than you believed. While you know that you're more than able to care for your child, unfortunately, having a physical disability can decrease your odds of winning custody and will require you put up more of a fight than you may have thought.

What Can I Do to Increase My Odds of Gaining Custody?

A physical disability can certainly make caring for your child more difficult, but it isn't impossible, and there are a number of things you can do to improve your abilities and increase your odds of winning the custody battle.

The best thing you can do when facing a custody battle is to ensure you have a strong support system in place. This doesn't have to be family – it can also be friends, doctors, therapists, and disability advocates. When you have a strong support system, you show the judge that you are more than able to provide for all of your child's needs, and you take their well-being very seriously. Other things to do include continuing medical appointments for the disability you do have and staying on top of your own wellness and health.

How a Lawyer Can Help

An experienced family law attorney can provide you with valuable help that you may have been unable to obtain or were unaware of before this battle began.

If you aren't already working with a disability advocate, your attorney can certainly set you up with one and get the ball rolling on services for you and your family. Your ex claiming that your physical disability gets in the way of caring for your child can also be a violation of your rights, and your attorney can not only inform you of the rights you have as an individual, but they can also fight for them in the appropriate manner. Your disability doesn't define who you are, and your attorney will be sure to advocate for you and your rights.

For more information, contact the Law Office of Shelli Wright Johnson or a similar firm.


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