Most parents in Nebraska do whatever they can to create the best lives for their children. Yet, when they have to start parenting after a divorce or non-marital split, the process of settling an arrangement for co-parenting can be very challenging, especially if a family is navigating particularly challenging circumstances.
For example, if one parent in the household has a history of substance abuse issues, the other may worry about allowing them to have unsupervised time with the children.
Impairment can affect parenting
There is quite a bit of research affirming how parental substance abuse can affect children. In some cases, it may lead to an increased incidence of violence in the household. Other times, the children may adopt similar substance abuse habits at relatively early ages. Parents who are under the influence may be volatile or unable to care for their children.
Therefore, if one parent has documentation that the other has an unaddressed substance abuse issue, that could affect how the courts divide parental responsibilities. Medical and legal records showing that someone abuses alcohol or drugs could raise questions about whether it would be in the best interests of the children to spend time alone with them before they seek treatment.
If one parent has sincere concerns about the other’s ability to meet the needs of the children, they may need to communicate that to their lawyer so that they can begin building a case to present to the family courts. Understanding what factors may influence custody determinations may help parents be better advocates for their children.
