How Can a Mother Lose Custody of Her Child?

It is a common misconception that the courts always favor mothers when determining child custody, but this is wrong. Every year, the court grants custody of children to a significant number of fathers, and it is likely that this percentage will rise as interested groups make efforts toward parental equality.

Even if you receive custody of your children, the courts may overturn its decision and revoke your rights at any time if certain circumstances arise. Preventable factors contribute to many good mothers losing custody of a child.

In case you are a mother who is worried that you might lose custody of your children or if your ex challenges your right to custody, read on.

Although you may have already gone to court and set up custody agreements for your child, you might still lose custody in some situations. As a mother, you should know about the circumstances of the case if you want to win custody.

When a parent loses custody of a child, he or she usually loses joint or physical custody, as well. Visitation can sometimes be limited or supervised. If the custody battle becomes rancorous, you need the assistance of an experienced family lawyer.

So, how can a mother lose a custody battle? Here is a list of the most common reasons. 

In the case of a mother who has abused her child physically or psychologically, the court will consider her incompetent as the custodian of her children. An unfit mother loses her custody battle if she cannot provide proper care, support, or guidance.

Is violating a custody court order likely to lead to losing custody? This is a legitimate reason to lose a custody battle. A court can remove a parent's custodial rights for any violation of the court order.

The following types of violations are common:

In addition, there are some straightforward reasons a mother would not get custody.

Although emotional abuse is difficult to prove, it can still play a significant role in grounds for removing a mother's custody rights. Belittling or harassing a child continually will result in loss of custody.

Children can also be emotionally abused by parental alienation (telling them to hate their other parent). Telling their children the other parent doesn't love them isn't their father is abusive.

Mothers don't need to commit extreme child abuse to lose custody battles. Abuse is generally defined as any activity or behavior that threatens a child's physical well-being. Women are generally believed to be less likely to physically abuse their children.

However, if a mother has hurt the child (e.g., hit, kicked, bit, burned, scratched, or done anything else abusive), her ex has every right to file a lawsuit against her. Her ex, for instance, can request a court investigation (with the aid of a lawyer) to examine his claims of physical abuse, and he may be awarded sole custody of the child.

When a mother's drug or alcohol abuse seriously hampers her ability to care for her child properly, the family courts will take it very seriously. Alcohol or drug addiction makes a mother incapable of parenting effectively. A child's life may be affected if there is physical, psychological, or sexual abuse or if the mother drives while impaired. 

Additionally, the judge can limit or supervise the mother's visitation until the mother decides to complete a counseling or rehabilitation program. The court may order ongoing monitoring by child protective services to protect the children's interests. 

Child abduction occurs if you take the child without asking permission from the other parent. You can lose custody of your child if you violate the terms of the custody agreement by taking the child without the other parent's permission. By not following all court stipulations, you may look unfavorable to the court and may lose custody.

The mental health of a parent does not, on its own, warrant denying custody or limiting access to a child. It is not a question of whether you have a mental illness but rather whether it affects your ability to care for your child.

The best interests of the child are paramount when determining custody and access. In this analysis, a mental illness only matters if it has an effect on your parenting capacity or puts your child at risk.

If the parent has not sought treatment or is only beginning treatment and cannot control their behavior and act in the child's best interests, this mental illness will have a greater impact on custody or access claims. A court may refuse custody to a parent with mental illness without evidence of a sustained period of stability. The court may grant an extended access order to a parent with mental illness even if it denies a custody claim. In many situations, temporary custody will go to the other parent while the mentally ill parent receives treatment.

Some spouses in high-conflict situations will use mental health allegations as a litigation tactic (and not out of any genuine concern for the child's welfare).

If your condition negatively impacts your ability to parent your child, and you have not sought professional help, you risk losing custody. The likelihood of your losing custody increases if you:

You can't lose custody of your child based solely on a diagnosis. Parents with mental health issues can be safe and attentive parents. A judge is unlikely to deny custody to a parent if they are managing their symptoms with therapy and medication and have no history of abusive behavior.

If you seek therapy for your symptoms, it will likely benefit your custody case. Seeking treatment demonstrates you are dealing with any behavioral problems. The good news is that therapy and medication can reduce your symptoms and make you a better parent overall, even if it won't guarantee you custody after a divorce.

Child neglect is a form of childhood abuse that indicates a failure to act. Mothers have a responsibility to make sure their children are properly clothed, reasonably clean, well-fed, educated, and meet all the necessities of life when they have custody of their children.

The mother will most likely lose custody of her child if she can't do all these things. Furthermore, she has to ensure that she does not leave a young child alone at home (thinking the child can take care of himself/herself); this is an example of negligence.

Parents who knowingly falsely accuse the other parent of physical or sexual abuse are just as dangerous as parents who abuse their children.

A parent who falsely accuses another of abuse may very well lose custody of the child. That depends on how serious the allegation is, as well as whether the parent can prove the allegation is false.

When a mother commits serious neglect that endangers the health, safety, education, or general welfare of her child, she could lose custody.

Mothers who disregard their responsibilities may lose custody if they act in a way that jeopardizes their children's needs. These include food, shelter, clothing, and education.

If a mother is unwilling to or can't provide a safe place for a child, she may lose custody. It is also possible for her to lose custody if the child is undernourished, not properly clothed, or fails to attend school.

You should certainly avoid the ways outlined above if you are a mother and want to retain custody rights. The fact that your ex is attempting to get custody of your child does not justify his case. Personal bias and related factors can all work against his claims while helping yours.

Therefore, it's also helpful to know how a father can weaken his case against you. These include:  

The more times your ex files complaints against you or asks the police to investigate, the more likely he is to lose credibility. In a household that has repeatedly shown its innocence, few judges will believe there is abuse or neglect taking place.

Do you have an angry or frustrated ex? If the father feels only these emotions and files against the mother without any other reason, the court protects the mother's child custody rights. As a result, if the father attempts to file again in the future, his credibility and character are questionable. If your ex threatens or yells at you, a judge may view him as an unfit parent.

In most cases, you won't lose your custody rights if your ex lacks evidence in his claim against you. Unless he documents everything that could help his case and complies with police reports or other court documents that will support his claims, the court will disregard his request. He must also file the proper paperwork; if he fails to do so, he could lose his case. Your lawyer can ensure he's following protocol and help uncover any mistakes he's made, ultimately benefiting you.

There is no set rule as to whether a court will award a mother custody of her children. It is the father's right to modify the existing custody agreement or to pursue custody if the mother abuses or neglects her children, alienates them from their father, or puts their lives in danger.

You will not lose legal custody of your children if you don't engage in these activities, and you are the one in the right. Keep in mind that the burden of proof rests with the father if he wants to file against you. Keeping your custody rights is often as simple as providing a stable, healthy home for your children and loving them as much as you can. Also, no matter the outcome of your actions, use the child care authorization template to secure your child against any unexpected issues in the future.