Parental Duties

It is important to understand how a Court will look at how a mother or father fulfills their parental duties.  It is through those criterion that a Court judges worthiness.  Custody determinations are often swayed by how a parent behaves not only to the children but also to the mother or father.   The lodestone is whether the parent provides well for the emotional and physical needs of the children.  The Courts tend to make that judgement based upon the individual needs of each child.  Certainly providing the child’s basic necessities is very important.  This can be defined as food, shelter, protection and affection.  The Court states “a child needs more than a benefactor, parental duty requires that a parent exert himself to take and maintain a place of importance in the child‘s life.” In the Interest of H.B.M.Y., 2017 Pa. Super. Unpub. LEXIS 3312, *9-10.

I have mentioned this before on this blog and the fact is that the Court values investment.  Yes, investment in the child.  This means investment not in the monetary sense – but in the emotional sense, in the temporal sense.  Spend time with them.  Do their homework with them.  Coach and attend their sports.  Plan activities with them.  Invest your time and love in them.  This is the best way to parent and the surest way to have a Court look well upon you in custody determinations.