Child Custody For Fathers

Child custody for fathers has become a new battleground area for fathers' rights. The crux of the issues lies in the historical belief that child custody belongs with the mother until the children are "older". This is where many custody battles take place. Finally, there is some support for father's custody that is becoming more relevant as it makes its way from research to practice.

Today, significant research shows agreement that fathers are important attachment figures, and that the father-child attachments are unique and independent of mother-child attachments.

father's custody, fathers custody rights

This consensus opposes historic beliefs that young children should not have overnight visits with their fathers until reaching preschool age and that child custody for fathers cannot even be considered. Furthermore, there is a body of research showing that there is "no harm" to very young children having overnight visits with both parents. These findings are relatively new and, unfortunately, still not tolerated or even understood in many courts. However, the right research in hand can accomplish much to improve child custody for fathers.

(As an aside, I know many instances where attorneys cite one particular journal article that happens to support their opinion and they march into court with it in hand. The points I'm making here refer to numerous journal articles by different authors which show a scientific basis for those findings.)

Many mothers are unhappy about this--understandably so. The beliefs about the "nurturing years" are long-standing, and the mother-infant bond is certainly an important attachment. However, fathers can be active parents and separating a child from the mother for a few days is not likely to result in harm. Of course, every family is unique--much depends on the parent's cooperation, the child's temperament and individual differences. In general, although not always agreed upon yet, it has been established that fathers also can be active parents.

To summarize the basic points:

1. Both mothers and fathers form unique attachments with their children
;2. Secure attachments with both parents enhances a child's development
3. Overnights for very young children are supported by many (though not all) researchers and does not show harm to the parent-child attachment.
4. There are benefits to young children's overnight visits in terms of the quality coming from such unique experiences.
5. Sometimes false allegations of child abuse are a tactic used by mothers to keep them from getting increased or sole custody.