If you are in the middle of a contested divorce or legal separation in Washington state, a judge may need to finalize the parenting plan and establish a child custody agreement that prioritizes the best interests of your child. A judge will consider multiple factors when determining a parenting plan that best suits the needs of your child, one of which includes the mental and emotional stability of each parent. No matter what the specific circumstances of your divorce may be, consider enlisting the legal guidance of a highly qualified and caring Camas family law attorney who can advocate for the best interests of you and your child at every opportunity. Let’s take a look at the interplay between mental health and child custody in Washington family law proceedings.
Does Mental Illness Affect Child Custody?
Family law courts strive to prioritize the best interests of the child involved in divorce, legal separation, child support, child custody, and other family law cases. To that end, judges seek to provide ample opportunity for the child to spend meaningful time with both parents, as long as the parents can offer a safe and stable environment. If the judge has reason to believe that a parent’s behavior poses a threat to the child’s safety or well-being in any way, accommodations will be made to keep the child safe until the parent has received the necessary counseling services or other interventions they may need. For example, a parent struggling with severe opioid addiction will likely need to move through a recovery and treatment program before the court will consider allowing the child to spend unsupervised time with them. Mental illness and child custody operate similarly—the court must consider a parent’s mental and emotional stability before awarding custody.
The Use of Mental Health Records in Child Custody Proceedings
With regard to mental illness, the judge overseeing your child custody case has one primary concern: determining if a parent’s mental illness will negatively affect their parenting ability. Whether you are a parent who has a history of mental illness or you are in the middle of a legal separation involving an ex-spouse who struggles with mental illness, it’s important to recognize that the court will assess these matters thoroughly in order to keep your child as safe and secure as possible. Judges understand that mental illnesses vary dramatically in the severity of symptoms, and they will seek to establish child custody arrangements that keep the child protected from potential harm. Your trusted and experienced Camas child custody attorney can help you navigate mental health evaluation requests while advocating for a fair and favorable outcome.
Learn More About Child Custody Proceedings Today
Whether your ex is accusing you of being a mentally unfit parent or you are wondering how to prove your ex has a mental illness, in a child custody dispute case, working with a skilled and dedicated Camas family law attorney is highly recommended. Mental health evaluations play a critical role in determining the best interests of a child by assessing each parent’s emotional stability and parenting capacity, as well as the child’s psychological needs. Consider discussing your unique needs and goals with an experienced divorce and child custody lawyer today.
If you need help negotiating a child custody case that prioritizes the best interests of your child, The Vern McCray Law Firm, PLLC, is ready to offer you the personalized and effective legal support you need during this challenging time. We encourage you to contact our Camas office today at (360) 834-6262 to get started with a highly qualified and caring family law attorney.
