What makes a parent unfit in California?

There are some generally accepted grounds a parent can use against the other to show they are unfit. These include abuse, neglect, domestic violence, mental illness, substance abuse, incarceration, among other factors. It’s important to understand the difference between physical and legal child custody in California.

What do private investigators look for in a child custody case?

A child custody investigation examines the child’s well-being and treatment in an objective manner. Private investigators may document any instances of abuse or neglect by taking pictures or making audio or visual recordings of the parent interacting with the child.

How does a judge decide who gets custody?

Judges must decide custody based on “the best interests of the child.” The “best interests of the child” law requires courts to focus on the child’s needs and not the parent’s needs. The law requires courts to give custody to the parent who can meet the child’s needs best .

What evidence do I need for child custody?

The most common types of evidence offered in a child custody case includes witnesses, journals, emails, text messages, voicemails, letters, photographs, videos, audio recordings, schedules, and records such as financial, medical, school and police reports.

How do you fight dirty in a custody battle?

Here are some examples:

Clean out bank accounts and/or max out credit cards.
Get a restraining order against their spouse on false or trumped-up allegations.
Making a false claim against the other spouse for physical abuse on the spouse and/or the children.

Can neglect be unintentional?

It may also include neglect of a child’s basic emotional needs. The neglect could be intentional or unintentional, and, if assessing a child for neglect, attention should be paid to both parents, not just the mother.

Is negligence the same as neglect?

Neglect and negligence are occasionally interchangeable, but neglect commonly refers to an instance, negligence to the habit or trait, of failing to attend to or perform what is expected or required: gross neglect of duty; negligence in handling traffic problems.

What are the effects of emotional neglect?

For children, affectional neglect may have devastating consequences, including failure to thrive, developmental delay, hyperactivity, aggression, depression, low self-esteem, running away from home, substance abuse, and a host of other emotional disorders. These children feel unloved and unwanted.

What are signs of emotional neglect?

Symptoms of Emotional Neglect

“Numbing out” or being cut off from one’s feelings.
Feeling like there’s something missing, but not being sure what it is.
Feeling hollow inside.
Being easily overwhelmed or discouraged.
Low self-esteem.
Perfectionism.
Pronounced sensitivity to rejection.

What qualifies as emotional neglect?

In a nutshell, emotional neglect is when a parent fails to see, know, or understand their child as they really are, rather than through the lens of what the parent thinks they are or wants them to be. It sometimes means a lack of attention and care, at others, it is a lack of boundaries, rules, and structure.

What is an example of emotional neglect?

One example of emotional neglect is a child who tells their parent they’re sad about a friend at school. The parent brushes it off as a childhood game instead of listening and helping the child cope. Over time, the child begins to learn that their emotional needs are not important.

How does lack of affection affect a child?

On the other hand, children who do not have affectionate parents tend to have lower self esteem and to feel more alienated, hostile, aggressive, and anti-social. There have been a number of recent studies that highlight the relationship between parental affection and children’s happiness and success.

What is the most common form of child neglect?

Physical neglect

How do you prove neglect in court?

Evidence of Neglect

Direct observations of the child, parent and home.
Statements from the parent and alleged perpetration that are consistent.
Statements from the child.
Corroboration of injuries and probable cause of injuries using medical records.
Behavioral indicators of parent and child.