Connecticut parents who divorce typically understand that the process ahead is bound to be wrought with challenge. After all, severing marital ties, especially when children are involved, is a major life-change to which all parties need to adapt, which isn’t always easy. If there are extenuating circumstances, as there appear to be in a recent out-of-state child custody case, things can get quite complicated in the courtroom.
This particular situation began several years ago when a 16-year-old girl entered a relationship with a 21-year-old man. The girl lived with her mother at the time, who was adamantly opposed to the relationship; in fact, the divide between the girl and her mother grew so wide, the girl wound up with no roof over her head. She and her boyfriend asked his parents if they could live with them, but the request was rejected.
Eventually, the two married (after learning the young lady was expecting a child). There began an on-again-off-again relationship, with the man visiting his child and helping to provide care after he and his wife separated. The situation wound up in child custody battle, with a judge making decisions some say were biased and showed a great deal of error in judgment. The trial court judge apparently made several mentions of the man’s religious affiliation and the mother of the child’s private life when awarding custody to the man.
Many Connecticut readers would likely agree that issues that were not being contested in a child custody situation should have little bearing on which parent obtains custody. This is one of many reasons parents facing challenging custody issues seek assistance from experienced family law attorneys. An attorney can aggressively protect a client’s parental rights and goals in court.
Source: The Washington Post, “Custody decision discriminated based on religiosity, sexual history”, Eugene Volokh, May 9, 2017