It is reasonable to assume that a wealthier parent is more likely to get custody of their kids. After all, being wealthy or well-off makes it appear that the parent has the money to support their children as well as a comfortable lifestyle.
Being wealthy isn’t all it takes to be a good parent, though. In fact, being wealthy won’t guarantee you or your spouse more time with your kids. Instead, the court would prefer that your children split time between your homes or primarily live with a parent who has a more stable environment for them.
Child custody is focused on what’s best for your children
What is in your children’s best interest is to be in a loving, supportive home environment. While one parent may have a mansion or pool that the kids love to use, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll win custody. For example, if that parent has to work around the world, they may not be home enough to have regular custody. If they were never home prior to the divorce and rarely saw their children, then it may not be in the best interests of the children to move in with the parent they saw less.
Having some money does matter because the court will want to be sure that the custodial parent is stable enough to provide for their children. They should have a healthy, safe home environment no matter which parent they live with. If one parent cannot offer their child a place to sleep or has no money for food, then it is more reasonable to assume that the wealthier parent will obtain primary custody while the other parent has visitation rights.
Create your own custody plan to prevent the unexpected
You and the other parent have the option to work out a custody plan on your own so that you don’t have as much of a risk of receiving a custody decision you don’t agree with in court. You can work out a plan that allows you both to see your children and to make sure that your children benefit from both parents’ love, affection and support.
