When a child is rather young, determining who should care for him or her and when is an important part of any divorce negotiation. One of the most commonly used tools in this instance is a temporary child custody order. Under a temporary child custody order, parents establish their respective duties and parental privileges, which is an important part of navigating divorce, especially for parents who are already relatively combative with each other.
Temporary child custody orders are very important in circumstances where the relationship between spouses is very tense. If you believe that your spouse is looking for any reason he or she can find to make you the villain in the divorce, a temporary child custody order should be at the top of your to-do list.
These orders grant custody privileges with a limited scope, and are intended to help spouses avoid unnecessary conflicts throughout the course of the divorce, particularly for those parents who cannot seem to agree on anything. At the end of the divorce process, a new custody order replaces the temporary order, and the permanent child custody order may have very different terms than the temporary order.
Should you choose to forego a temporary custody order, a highly motivated spouse may claim that you kidnapped your own children. A temporary custody order helps establish the privileges and responsibilities each parent shares throughout a divorce and keep the matter as civil as possible. Don’t hesitate to see out professional legal counsel that can help you request a temporary custody order and protect your rights throughout a difficult divorce.
Source: Findlaw, “Family Court Decisions: Temporary Orders,” accessed Oct. 06, 2017