When parents are involved in a child custody case, many factors are taken into consideration. One such factor is the physical and mental health of both parents.
If one parent is living with a chronic illness, it could have an impact on the outcome of their child custody case. While the court cannot discriminate against you because of a chronic illness, they will consider its impact on your parenting abilities. Let’s take a look at how a chronic illness could affect a parent’s ability to care for their children and what that means for their custody case.
The Effects of Chronic Illness on Parenting
Chronic illnesses can be managed with proper medical care, but they still take up time, energy, and resources from the person living with them. This can make day-to-day parenting more difficult for someone who is managing a chronic illness.
A court may consider this in a child custody case when determining which parent is best suited to provide for the child’s needs. In some cases, a court may suggest that the parent with the chronic illness seek full or partial primary custody so that they can better manage their condition while still providing adequate care to their children.
The Role of Healthcare Professionals in Child Custody Cases
When parents are involved in a child custody battle involving one or both having chronic illnesses, medical professionals may be called upon to testify as expert witnesses. These experts will often analyze each parent’s lifestyle and health status before making an assessment about which parent should be awarded primary custody of the children.
It is important to note that these decisions are not based solely on whether or not one parent has a chronic illness; instead, healthcare professionals will look at how well each parent is able to meet the needs of the children even while managing their own physical and mental health conditions.
To learn more about the factors courts consider when determining the best interest of the child, read our blog, “What Is Included in the Child's Best Interests for Missouri Child Custody and Support Issues?”
Can I Still Be Awarded Custody If I Have a Chronic Illness?
While it’s true that having a chronic illness can have an impact on your ability to care for your children during a child custody case, it doesn’t mean that you won’t be awarded primary or shared physical custody depending on your situation and other factors taken into consideration by the court. In short, if either party has a chronic illness that impacts day-to-day parenting capabilities, this will be taken into account during the proceedings – but it isn’t necessarily an automatic “win” for either party.
Reliable & Highly Competent Family Law Attorneys
If you have any questions about how your chronic illness might affect your case, it’s important to speak with an attorney who specializes in family law so you can understand what options are available to you moving forward. At Kallen Law Firm, LLC, our attorneys have over 45 years of legal experience, and we have dedicated our practice to handling family law and divorce cases. We have the experience and knowledge to help parents navigate their child custody case and develop a tailored case strategy.
Get started on your child custody case today by calling (314) 441-7793 or completing our online contact form.
