Domestic violence situations can arise in child custody exchanges

When it comes to child custody matters, emotions can run high. One parent may feel like he or she came up short after the divorce or separation, which can lead to animosity. In some situations, one parent dropping a child off with another can even be viewed as a way of continuing to be defeated. Sadly, these types of thoughts and emotions at times end up leading to domestic violence situations that put both the parents and children at risk.

Recently there were two separate incidents where violence played a role in custody exchanges. One case was a tragic murder-suicide. The other involved violence, but both parents did survive.

Both of the incidents happened in public places that were specifically chosen for custody exchanges. Due to the fact that these incidents did happen in public places, for parents who may be concerned now, the advice is to get police involved if there is any hint that there could be trouble at an exchange. Even if there ends up being no issue, it’s better to be embarrassed then wind up injured.

Right now, there are no studies pointing to an increase in domestic violence situations arising from child custody exchanges and disputes. However, some point to the fact that the added stress of the current economy could be a contributing factor in some of the cases that have been reported.

In the end, while the cases mentioned were rather extreme, it’s important to remember that any type of violence is not OK. Additionally, when it comes to violence, there is a good chance that a victim and abuser will once again be in a courtroom together, which can be rather traumatic. However, for those parents living in Missouri, it’s important to remember that the courtroom is not something that needs to be done alone, and rather an attorney with experience in family law and domestic violence can be there for a parent through the entire ordeal.

Source: Sun Sentinel, “Anger can explode at child custody hand-overs,” Mike Clary, June 24, 2012