Legal Question in Family Law in Virginia

Give mother sole custody or get joint?

I am scheduled to go to court in two weeks regarding the custody of my two year old daughter. The mother was the one who filed with the courts. By mutual agreemant, she resides with the mother. I pay a fair amount of child support each month and see my daughter every other weekend and sometimes during the week if possible. This is something we have both agreed on ourselves with out any outside involvement. Our relationship is friendly and very civil. However, she wants full custody and does not want joint custody. So my question is, is there a reason for her not wanting joint custody that I am not aware of and should I push for joint custody anyway, which I know I'd get or would it be against my favor in letting her get sole custody of our daughter? So I am not sure which would be in my best interest. Any advice is greatly appreciated.


Asked on 1/30/02, 5:34 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Re: Give mother sole custody or get joint?

Why don't you ask your wife as to why she now wants sole custody and is willing to go to court

to get it?

If she succeeds, nothing in fact may really change

in terms of your relationship with your daughter,

but, on the other hand it's conceivable that your

involvement in her life and in important decisions

affecting her life might at some future time be curtailed by virtue of your wife using her sole custody status to exert greater authority than she

would otherwise do having only joint custody.

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Answered on 1/31/02, 12:30 am


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