An estimated 15 million persons in the United States misuse alcohol, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Although it is socially normal to drink alcohol, there might be serious consequences when it comes to child custody.
In Family Law Cases, Alcohol Abuse
According to studies, almost 55 thousand divorce cases contain a parent who is an alcoholic. Unmet developmental requirements, compromised and broken relationships with a parent, financial troubles in the family, legal issues, emotional and psychological pain, and even violence are all possible outcomes for young children.
Alcoholism’s Effects on Children’s Families
According to additional research from the National Institutes of Health, a child who is repeatedly exposed to an environment in which a primary caregiver is unresponsive to their basic needs is more likely to develop an insecure attachment, which can lead to depression, anxiety, and failure to thrive. As a result, “attachment issues” are widespread among children who live in families where alcohol addiction is prevalent.
Child Custody in Alcohol Abuse Cases
A parenting plan should state that a parent should not consume any alcohol at any time, or for a particular number of hours before and during parenting time if the child has an alcohol addiction. These nuances guarantee that a parent and kid may have a meaningful relationship without jeopardizing the youngster’s safety.
Remote alcohol monitoring devices are an easy-to-use solution for reducing litigation and assisting alcoholic parents in proving their sobriety in real-time.
What Factors Influence Child Custody Decisions?
Judges have a legal obligation to guarantee that a child’s safety and health be maintained as much as feasible. To decide child custody arrangements, courts will consider several criteria, one of which will be both parents’ history of substance addiction. The court has the legal authority and responsibility to make decisions in the child’s best interests. Obtaining court-admissible paperwork demonstrating a client’s sobriety may result in parenting time being given and litigation being simplified.
Maintaining the Child’s Best Interests Standard
Practitioners are aware that the ‘Best Interests of the Child Standard’ is used as a guiding principle by courts across the United States when determining child custody decisions. While this norm may be random, it takes into account several aspects that affect a child’s emotional, psychological, and physical well-being. Courts seek to provide children as many chances as possible to retain contact with both parents.
Alcohol Monitoring via Soberlink
Soberlink alcohol monitoring is a solution for parents and their legal counsel who are dealing with alcohol misuse. Soberlink offers the real-time results, face recognition, as well as Advanced Reporting, which gives the court-acceptable sobriety proof. Soberlink encourages accountability, which can serve as a basis for parents to demonstrate to a court that they are serious about their alcoholism.
