Can You Lose Custody Because You Live With Your Boyfriend?
Question: I have been told that since I am unmarried and live with my fiance’, the Court will give custody of my child to her father who never sees her. How can that be? Can I really lose custody of my child because I live with my boyfriend?
Answer: First, you should be careful as to believing what “others” may tell you, as only your attorney can give you accurate advice specific to your particular case. The things that your friends, co-workers, and/or family members may tell you (no matter how well intentioned they may be) may not necessarily be true or applicable to your case.
Now, if you are living with a boyfriend/finance’ to whom you are not married, the Court will consider that to be an “immoral environment.” As such, it will be a factor, but it is only one of many factors that the Court will consider in a custody case. In some cases it can be the determining factor, whereas in others it might not make as much of an impact on the outcome.
The bottom line is that you should tell your attorney all of the facts of your case (both good and bad) so that he can then give you the appropriate advice. Without knowing all of the facts of a particular case, it is virtually impossible to say how much of a factor any one item will or will not be (except for things such as child abuse or neglect).
Contact our office at (864) 598-9172 or SCFamilyLaw@offitkurman.com to schedule an initial consultation.
ABOUT J. BENJAMIN STEVENS
Ben.Stevens@offitkurman.com | 864.598.9172
Aggressive, creative, and compassionate are words Ben Stevens' colleagues freely use to describe him as a divorce and family law attorney. Mr. Stevens is a Fellow in the prestigious American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, the International Academy of Family Lawyers, and is a Board Certified Family Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He is one of only two attorneys in South Carolina with those simultaneous distinctions. He has held numerous leadership positions in the AAML, and he currently serves as one of its National Vice Presidents. Mr. Stevens has a statewide practice and regularly appears all across South Carolina. His practice is focused on complex divorce and child custody cases.
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ABOUT OFFIT KURMAN
Offit Kurman, one of the fastest-growing, full-service law firms in the United States, serves dynamic businesses, individuals and families. With 15 offices and nearly 250 lawyers who counsel clients across more than 30 areas of practice, Offit Kurman helps maximize and protect business value and personal wealth by providing innovative and entrepreneurial counsel that focuses on clients’ business objectives, interests and goals. The firm is distinguished by the quality, breadth and global reach of its legal services and a unique operational structure that encourages a culture of collaboration. For more information, visit www.offitkurman.com.
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