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When Child Custody Goes To Court, Private Issues Become Public

On Behalf of | Nov 2, 2016 | Family Law |

When a couple with children divorces, they should do their best to provide a stable situation for their kids during a time of upheaval. It is generally preferable to make child custody arrangements in a collaborative manner, when possible. If this cannot be done, the Oregon courts will have to rule on any disputes that arise, either during the divorce, or in later years. Unfortunately, sometimes deeply private situations can become a matter of public record.

A former couple agreed to joint custody of their young son, with the mother acting as primary caregiver. When the boy began to show signs of identifying as a girl, the mother eventually chose to support his decision to dress in girls’ clothing. After telling the child’s father what was happening, he soon served her with papers in which he alleged the boy’s issue was her fault, and that he was now seeking primary custody of the child.

In Dec. 2015, a Canadian judge ordered that the boy could no longer wear girls’ clothes outside of his own home, but did not change the custody arrangement. A second judge upheld the clothing ban in Feb. 2016, and awarded primary custody to the father. And most recently, in Sept. 2016, a third judge amended the clothing rule, allowing the boy to make his own clothing choices from an assortment of boys’ and girls’ apparel. 

Whether in Canada or the United States, it is the duty of the courts to make rulings on matters of child custody when called upon to do so. In doing so, however, divorced parents open their private lives up to public scrutiny and outcomes are out of their control. For many Oregon men and women, attempting to work their issues out in private with assistance from a family law firm may be preferable to protracted litigation.

Source: inquisitr.com, “Canadian Judge Orders Mom To Stop Letting 4-Year-Old Son Wear Girls’ Clothing“, Aaron Homer, Oct. 24, 2016

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