Financial Snags: How To Give Your Parents Custody Of Your Child
You may be worried about your child's well-being because your financial situation is inadequate for your child and you know he or she will be better off living with your parents. Giving your parents temporary custody is not hard. The following guide will help make the transition successful.
A Few Legal Tips
The following is a list of things that you should consider before giving custody to your parents:
- Determine the length of stay. Remember that a stay of 1 to 2 months does not require legal documentation. Talk to your family law attorney for any period longer than 2 months, as that will require an application for temporary custody.
- Remember to write a letter giving your parents permission to take care of your child's medical needs. Your lawyer will make certain that the letter has the right terminology.
Let your parents know that they will have to go to court with you to present your case to the judge. The judge will appoint social services to inspect your parents' home to ensure the safety of your child before granting custody to them. Remember, this process could take up to a month or more, although a good lawyer may be able to help you expedite the process.
Talk To Your Child
You will have to talk to your child about this temporary change of custody, depending on his or her age. The following points should help you talk to your child about this temporary change in his or her life:
- The first thing you should do is be honest with your child. This does not mean you have to go into the specifics of your financial struggles. But it does require you to tell him or her that you are unable to take care of his or her needs at the moment.
- Do not make promises that you cannot keep because this might discredit you if you are unable to keep those promises. Do not say that you will come back to take him or her home in 4 months if you are not sure that this promise can be kept.
- Make sure that you make time to visit your child as much as possible. And don't be afraid of using the technology available today, like face-to-face video calls and such. You want to give your child the feeling that you are still around for him or her.
You can talk to your family law attorney about your situation, as he or she may be able to help even more. You, your child and parents can also benefit from a family psychologist to help you all cope with this temporary situation. For more information about this process, contact a family lawyer such as William K Holman.
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