Child custody is at the heart of many ferocious divorce cases. To most, the right to have legal involvement in their child’s upbringing is the most important part of a divorce settlement. Settling child custody disputes can take months of complex legal proceedings, but good parents often end up with joint child custody, though ultimately the courts will do what is best for the child. Sometimes winning custody isn’t enough, however, and unexpected circumstances can prevent parents from having the relationships with their children that they deserve.
A Texas father fought a hard legal battle for custody of his 3-year-old son, and even though he won, he still does not have the relationship he wants and deserves with his son. The boy was born in Sugar Land, Texas, but his mother ended up taking him with her to Poland and then France, where she and the child were granted citizenship.
Despite the father winning custody in Texas courts, a French judge determined that the boy is a French citizen and thus the American court order cannot be enforced. The man now claims that this custody battle is the “top priority” in his life, and visited his son in France 30 times in the last three years.
Texans can only hope that they do not have to contend with the incredible circumstances of this father, whom we hope manages to successfully appeal the French government’s ruling and regains custody of his son. Still, this case shows not only how bitter a custody battle can become, but also how important it is to enlist strong legal counsel to help manage the complexities of the case. Your child may not be taken away to a foreign country or even out of San Antonio, but that doesn’t mean a battle for child custody won’t be challenging.
Source: ABC13.com, “WEST U DAD CAUGHT IN INTERNATIONAL CHILD CUSTODY DISPUTE,” Sonia Azad, May 21, 2014