When a relationship between parents ends, there is typically a period of time between their physical separation and the court’s issuance of a final order regarding legal and physical custody of the children. When parents do not reach a consensus about arrangements for their children, courts issue temporary custody orders that govern this transition period. Temporary custody orders may also be issued in other situations.
Life is often stressful and unsettled immediately after a separation, and concern about custody issues can heighten the tension. A Southbury temporary custody order lawyer can guide you through the process. Our seasoned child custody attorneys can ensure that the temporary arrangement works well for you and eases the transition for your children.
When parents initially separate, they may not be emotionally ready to make long-term decisions about their children. Often, one parent leaves the family home, and the children stay there under the care of the other parent. The parents may later agree on an informal arrangement to ensure the parent who left has time with the children.
In some cases, especially when a parent feels that the co-parent poses a threat, they may take the children to another location. The concern may be ensuring the children have an appropriate home and are safe in the company of both their parents. Any parent worried that the co-parent poses a threat to themselves or their children should discuss temporary custody orders with a Southbury attorney.
Seeking a temporary custody order can help parents focus on the issues they must learn to manage over the long term. They can distill their feelings about which parent should have decision-making responsibility, also called legal custody, or whether they can share the responsibility. They also can allocate time with the children between them and, when necessary, ensure that safeguards are in place to keep a child safe when a parent is unreliable, unstable, or violent.
Negotiated temporary custody agreements are beneficial for all parties, particularly the children. Parents know their children and their individual needs, and they can create an agreement tailored to help their children adapt to their parents living in separate households.
Parents negotiating a temporary custody agreement should remember that a judge must review and approve it before it is issued as a court order. Connecticut General Statutes § 46b-56 states custody arrangements must serve the children’s best interests. Parents must put their own preferences aside and focus on providing their children with a sense of security, stability, and continuity.
A temporary custody order lasts for a defined period of time, usually until the divorce is final or, in the case of unmarried parents, the court makes a final custody order. As the family works with the temporary arrangement, changes may be made when developing the parenting plan to become the basis for a permanent order. An attorney in Southbury can help parents convert their temporary order into a workable parenting plan.
Many separating parents seek temporary orders to establish a framework for co-parenting when they plan to live apart. However, other circumstances can also lead to temporary custody orders.
Any parent who believes their co-parent poses a threat to themselves or their children can seek an ex parte custody order, meaning the other parent has no notice of the request. If the court grants an emergency order, it will remain in effect until a full hearing is held. An experienced child custody lawyer in Southbury can represent any parent involved in a matter concerning an emergency or temporary order.
The Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF) also has the power to seek temporary custody of children. In many cases, DCF turns the children over to a family member, but in some cases, they are placed in a foster home until the parents resolve the issue that led to DCF involvement.
For many families, temporary custody orders allow them to transition to separate households with a firmer sense of stability. In other cases, temporary orders can protect children from potential harm.
In either case, one of our Southbury temporary custody orders lawyers can provide critical legal guidance and support. Reach out to us today to learn more.
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