What Crimes Prevent Parents from Gaining Child Custody?
When you feel like your child is in danger, the world seems to stop and nothing else matters. Finding out your child could be sent to your ex-spouse who has an abusive past or the potential for child abuse is scary. This is the last thing most parents want for their children. The good news is you have legal options under the best interests of the child standard. Do not hesitate to consult with an Oklahoma family attorney about this in your Oklahoma divorce case.
Types of Crimes that Block Parents from Child Custody
Part of protecting your child from harm involves knowing what types of crimes can prevent child custody and visitation. There are four main crimes that can prevent a parent from gaining custody of their child in Oklahoma:
- Child abuse charges
- Domestic abuse charges
- Registered sex offender
- Drug-related crimes or drug abuse
What the judge will go off is not always the crime itself, but rather, the potential risks of letting the previously convicted parent gain custody. By Oklahoma law, child custody cannot 
be approved for a parent if the result could lead to potential harm to the child. While these all sound like adequate reasons to block your ex-spouse from gaining custody of your child, this may not automatically happen.
Some ex-spouses will fight you for child custody with evidence and witness testimonies that defend their ability to raise your child. You must be prepared for this by contacting an Oklahoma lawyer who has experience in family law. A lawyer will have the knowledge needed to challenge your ex-spouse’s claims.
One of the most important things this case will revolve around is the best interests of the child standard. This is what can helps determine the outcome.
What is the Best Interests of the Child Standard?
You might be wondering what the best interests of the child standard is. This law is something that all family law judges follow when making any major legal decision for a child, whether in a divorce case or not. What this standard defends is the child’s well-being, meaning the child’s:
- Psychological well-being
- Physical safety
- Educational attainment
- Health
The judge will look at your ex-spouse’s ability to accomplish these four main aspects of the best interest standard. Things that will affect whether your ex-spouse has a chance of receiving custody include how long ago the crime was, the crime severity, and the restrictions of the charges. Sex crimes, for example, vary on restrictions depending on how old the victim was and the laws of each state. The same goes for drug crimes.
Divorce Attorney in Oklahoma
Fearing the safety of your child in the hands of your abusive ex-spouse can be incredibly stressful. Reaching out to an Oklahoma divorce lawyer might be the answer to your problems. All you have to do is contact the Putnam Law Office by dialing (405)-849-9149 for a consultation today. Our legal team can help you find the evidence needed to protect your child. Mr. Putnam is an experienced attorney in Oklahoma City, OK who is dedicated to his clients.
