When a couple with children chooses to get a divorce in Wheat Ridge, Arvada, or Golden, child custody is an important issue. Where your children will live, who they will live with, how to co-parent, and how different responsibilities will be divided. When there are disagreements about any of these aspects related to child custody, it may be left to a Jefferson County judge to make the final decision. Often, when it gets to that point, clients are worried about what will be said in court – including criminal history.
Can My Criminal Conviction Be Used Against Me in a Jefferson County Child Custody Case?
Sometimes, when child custody arguments get ugly, past indiscretions will be brought up to put you in a bad light in front of the judge. However, the court is always working to protect the relationship with a child’s biological parent as long as it is safe and beneficial to the child. It is always about the best interest of the child. While criminal convictions are not a positive thing to bring up in court, our experience has been that the court will view this subjectively, taking into consideration more than just that one aspect. The type of criminal conviction will play a role in this.
Court Considerations with Criminal Records and Allocation of Parental Responsibilities
The court will look into various aspects of the crime like the nature of the crime and who the victim was. Violent crimes like Assault will be see in a different light than non-violent crimes like Theft. This is because judges are worried that a violent history may pose a threat of danger to the children. If the victim was one of your children or another child, the court may take this into consideration when determining the amount of visitation time and the type of visitation allowed. Drug crimes can also present issues, as the court may worry about a drug issue and question your ability to care for your child sufficiently.
Don’t Lose Hope! Call a Child Custody Attorney Today!
Having a previous criminal conviction, while a positive point, is not a reason to automatically lose hope regarding child custody. With an experienced Mountainview and Jefferson County family law and child custody attorney on your side, the court will hear your side of things and will consider all the details before making any determinations.
If you are worried about your past playing a part in your child custody case, contact the best family law attorneys from the Pearman Law Firm at 303-991-7600.
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