It’s incredibly difficult for a Rhode Island parent who loses custody of their children. Parents who find themselves without custody of their children shouldn’t get discouraged though – there are ways to regain custody.
Looking at why you lost custody
The court will always rule in favor of the children and what it determines is best for them. There are several reasons that a person might lose custody of their children during a divorce, such as:
- Issues with housing
- Issues with employment
- Drug or alcohol addiction
- Loss of contact
Generally, a court will tell you if there are contingencies to your custody. For example, the court may award you custody again once you secure employment or an apartment for them to live in.
These are easy things to prove and pretty straightforward, if challenging, to fix. But if you lost custody of your children due to addiction issues or other safety concerns, you might have to go through more hoops to prove you deserve custody again.
Request an evaluation
The court may give you steps to take after the divorce, such as going to counseling or rehab if you struggled with addiction. After you feel you have done everything the court asked for, you and your legal team can request an evaluation.
The court will send someone (usually a psychologist) to your home to assess whether it is safe for your kids. They’ll usually observe how you interact with your children.
Stay positive
Being away from your children can be hard, and going through all the steps can feel intimidating. It’s no easy feat to regain custody, but with enough dedication, parents might be able to have a custody order modified in their favor.
