Temporary Child Custody

Temporary child custody, issued through a temporary custody order, is a court’s decision to award physical custody of a minor child to one parent pending a final determination of custody.

Such an order may be issued when the child’s parents separate in anticipation of a divorce, and a determination must be made as to where the child will reside until the custody issue is resolved.

The custody case is initiated when one of the parties files a custody petition with the court. The parent filing the petition is called the petitioner, and the other parent is called the respondent.

The custody petition sets forth the parties’ relationship to the child and the reasons the petitioner believes he or she should be awarded custody. The court may appoint a lawyer (known as a guardian ad litem) to act on the child’s behalf and represent his or her interests.

What is in the best interests of the child?

In making a temporary custody decision, the court will base its decision on a standard known as best interests of the child. In short, what are the best options to ensure the child’s physical and emotional development and well-being?

Stability and continuity of the child’s schooling, activities, and family ties are important factors. The court would not want to unnecessarily uproot a child from a stable home environment unless there were overriding concerns for their health and safety. If this is necessary, is there an extended family member who can step in?

Additional factors a court may consider include the mental and physical health of the parents and the extent to which the child is dependent upon or emotionally tied to a particular parent.

How Does The Child’s Preference Affect Temporary Child Custody Determinations?

Depending on the child’s age and maturity level, a court may also consider the child’s preference, provided it is reasonable under the circumstances. The court will generally give great weight to an older child’s preference. However, if the child’s preference is clearly at odds with his or her welfare, the court is less likely to defer to the their wishes. For example, if the chosen parent has a history of abusive behavior, drug or alcohol dependency, or is otherwise unfit, the child’s preference is not reasonable and clearly not in the child’s best interests.

If there are questions of abuse or other issues, the courts may call in a guardian ad litem to represent the child’s interests. The guardian ad litem could request psychological evaluations, help evaluate extended family connections, and otherwise look out for any children they are assigned to.

What are the reasons for temporary child custody?

Here are some reasons for temporary guardianship of a minor child:

• Divorce or separation – parents agree to temporary child custody agreements while arranging for a final child custody order
• Lack of financial resources – if a parent cannot afford to care for his/her children, s/he may request a relative to be a temporary legal guardian.
• Huge responsibilities –A parent with a tight work schedule who has to travel very often may ask a relative or friend to care for his/her children temporarily
• Domestic Violence – if the child is abused, the court may order a temporary custody arrangement to protect the child.
• Illness or hospitalization – a parent who is temporarily unable to take care may ask a friend or relative to care for his/her children temporarily

What is temporary child support?

The parent who is awarded temporary custody is known as the custodial parent. The non-custodial parent may be given visitation rights and expected to pay child support payments to the custodial parent. A visitation schedule may be agreed upon between the parents. If the parents cannot come to an agreement regarding visitation, the court will determine an appropriate schedule, recognizing that it is in the best interests of the child to maintain a close and loving relationship with both parents.

Temporary child support is usually awarded when a temporary custody order is issued. In most cases, child support levels will be calculated using the state’s child support guidelines, which use the income from both parents to make a determination as to how much support should be paid by the non-custodial parent to the parent with custody. Even if parents are awarded joint custody, the parent with the greater income will be required to pay support to the other parent. The amount of child support varies by the amount of time the paying parent spends with the child. So a parent with more visitation time pays less in child support than a parent who sees the child infrequently.

Can Temporary Child Custody Orders Become Permanent?

Although a temporary custody order is supposed to be a short-term solution pending a final custody determination, the temporary order often evolves into a permanent custody order. During the divorce, as part of the final judgment, a judge will assign a permanent child custody order that tells how, when, and where the parents will share legal and physical custody. It will also state whether one parent will have sole legal custody, sole physical custody, or both. If the parties cannot voluntarily agree to a custody arrangement, a trial will be scheduled so that the parties can present evidence to try and convince the court who would be the better caretaker for the child. In the interim, time passes and the current temporary custodial situation can become the more stable environment. The child becomes attached to a certain school, activities, and friends, and it becomes more difficult to convince the court that disrupting the continuity the child has enjoyed is in their best interests.

This gives the parent who is awarded temporary custody an important advantage in the ensuing custody battle. Thus, a proceeding to determine temporary custody should be taken seriously and a parent should not voluntarily surrender the temporary custodial rights without careful consideration.

Circumstances that Cause Custody Changes

Under some circumstances, even if a parent is initially awarded temporary custody, they may not end up with custody in the permanent order. One of these circumstances is when the parent with temporary custody frustrates the non-custodial visitation rights. This might include not making the child available for visitation. It could be as seemingly innocent as scheduling social calendars during the non-custodial parent’s visitation time. Courts view a child’s continuing relationship with both parents to be in the best interest of children. So if it can be shown that the custodial parent is unwilling to foster the child’s relationship with the other parent and in fact obstructs the relationship, courts may award custody to the parent who seems more likely to nurture the child’s relationships with both.

Since child custody cases can be complicated, it is best to consult with a family lawyer to discuss how to prepare for a temporary custody hearing and any other concerns. If children are in danger, you can apply for emergency custody by filing a petition in the counties where the children live.

Case Studies: Temporary Child Custody

Case Study 1: Preparing for Divorce

Emma and David, a married couple, decide to separate while they work through their divorce proceedings. They have a 6-year-old daughter, Lily, and are concerned about her well-being during this transitional period. The court issues a temporary child custody order, granting Emma physical custody of Lily during this time.

The decision is based on the child’s best interests, ensuring stability in her schooling and maintaining her existing family ties. As the temporary custody period progresses, Emma and Lily develop a routine and emotional connection, which influences the court’s final decision to award Emma permanent custody due to the established bond.

Case Study 2: Evaluating Parental Behavior

In another case, Sarah and Michael are going through a contentious divorce, and the court issues a temporary custody order for their two children, Alex and Mia. The court-appointed guardian ad litem observes that Sarah frequently interferes with Michael’s visitation rights by scheduling activities during his designated time with the children.

This behavior raises concerns about Sarah’s willingness to foster the children’s relationship with their father. As a result, the court revisits the custody arrangement and ultimately grants Michael primary physical custody in the permanent custody order, aiming to provide a stable environment that nurtures both children’s relationships with both parents.

Case Study 3: Considering the Child’s Preference

In a custody dispute between John and Emily, the court issues a temporary custody order for their teenage son, Ethan. Ethan expresses a strong preference to live with his mother during this period, citing that he feels more comfortable in her home and school district. The court takes Ethan’s age and maturity into account and recognizes the importance of considering his preference.

However, the court also investigates further to ensure that Ethan’s choice aligns with his best interests. After assessing Emily’s fitness as a custodial parent and evaluating the stability of both households, the court incorporates Ethan’s preference into the final custody order, granting Emily primary physical custody.