Deciding when can a child choose which parent to live with is frequently the most emotionally charged and contested part of a finalizing a divorce. But at some point, it would probably be fair for the child to consider the children of interests too. That is why the decision about where to live should always be made with the permission of the children. A child has a legal right to choose which parent they will live most of the time with based on how that parent will have an effect on their emotional development. Therefore, the parent that the child adores the most has a strong incentive to establish a positive relationship with the child.
The parent who the child adores is the one who pays child support. Therefore, if you want to establish a meaningful relationship with your child, you must be able to afford to make child support payments. There are a few factors that the courts take into consideration when setting child support payments. If you are trying to establish a meaningful relationship with your child, you may want to work hard to reduce your financial obligation to them.
The first thing the court takes into consideration when determining child support is what is known as “physical custody.” Physical custody means the time the child spends living in your home. Although Missouri law does not specify how much time the child should spend living in your home, it is usually a standard amount of twenty-four hours per week. The court also takes the time during visitation to look at each parent’s parenting schedule and consider what is the best schedule for the child. Once the court has determined the physical custody and the best schedule, the judge will use those factors to establish an amount of child support. Some of the other relevant factors include:
During a divorce, children will likely be split between two parents. Missouri divorce laws outline exactly how the parents must divide their child custody; however, there are some exceptions to the rule. If you live in a state that uses a no-fault divorce, then the court may allow the divorcing parents to make decisions about where the child will live.
To establish a meaningful relationship with your child, you must spend quality time together. The majority of divorces end up with custody being awarded to the mother, unless a father is willing to prove he can provide the necessary necessities for his children. You must also spend meaningful time with your children. The court may require you to participate in their educational programs and to help them in every way you can. The court will review all parenting plans and can only make a decision about which plan offers the best interests of the children.
The best interest of the child is the court’s consideration when determining which parent gets custody of the child. Although the court is not required to take into consideration what your spouse thinks, it is important for the judge to take into consideration what is in the best interest of the child. If you want to establish a meaningful relationship with your child and if you think that you can be an important influence on him or her, the court will likely consider your viewpoint. The court can also consider the child’s relationship with both parents, his or her living situation with both parents, and his or her relationship with the extended family. If you have any significant financial needs, the court will consider your ability to pay.
Both you and your spouse should make efforts to keep in touch with the other parent. This is very important if you are living in separate residences. You should try to develop a schedule that allows both of you to spend time together as much as possible. You should try to avoid separation so that the child can have a meaningful relationship with both parents. If you and the other parent have a good relationship, the court may allow joint physical custody. This means that the child will spend equal time with both parents.
One other detail of Missouri custody law that might make a big difference in your decision is the amount of time that each parent has with the child. Usually, joint custody is granted to the most experienced parent. If neither of you are very experienced in raising children, you might have a better chance of establishing a close and intimate relationship with the child. If you live in the St Louis area, contact a family law attorney as soon as possible.