Many parents find themselves in a custody battle at some point in their lives. It can be scary and frustrating to keep track of what is going on and how you are supposed to act during the process. During the court custody process, whether it’s a divorce, separation, or modification of a parenting plan, it’s imperative that you disclose your recreational hobbies to your child custody lawyer. It can be challenging to understand the purpose of this information. Let’s explore this.
Your Ex Could Turn the Things You Love into Dangerous Exposure
Your child custody lawyer must understand all the recreational hobbies you engage in. This list includes video games, contact sports, group sports, competitions you might train for, your exercise habits, and any other recreational hobby that includes equipment, sharp pointy things, safety precautions, or where you are exposed to the elements.
Here’s why: Your former spouse may decide to toss an accusation into their paperwork and present it to the court as if it’s a valid and actual occurrence.
Examples of Twisting Innocent Things
- Suppose you participate in fencing as a hobby or even in competition. In that case, your ex might say that you are openly practicing with genuine blades, that you brag about it to your social circles, and that you’re doing it while your toddler is crawling around in the practice arena.
- Suppose you participate in bow hunting during regulated hunting seasons and only shoot your bow at the ranges while your child is away. In that case, your ex might still claim you have your child “around dangerous weapons.”
- Suppose you are an expert swimmer and always abide by safety protocols, yet your home doesn’t yet have a safety perimeter around your backyard pool. In that case, your ex might claim that you left your child unsupervised around the pool.
Disclosing as Much as Possible Gives Your Child Custody Case an Edge
Try to think of how just about any hobby or sport you engage in can become a danger in the mind of someone who likes to make things up. Disclosing all these things to your attorney, including how much time you participate, your group practice days, the equipment used, and under what conditions (all players are required to abide by sanitation protocols, wear helmets, adults watch the kids on the sidelines, etc.). If your attorney knows, then your lawyer can present the information in a way that preserves your rights, combats lies, and helps you retain the hobbies you love.
Conclusion
No matter what recreational sport or hobby you engage in, you must tell your lawyer during the child custody process. Even something seemingly safe, like video games, can be taken out of context by a person intent on getting under your skin. By providing your lawyer with as much information as possible, your lawyer is not caught off guard, and you’ll have more peace of mind during this process. Any experienced family law lawyer will be happy to hear about the recreational habits that keep you sane and comfortable.