Do Alcoholics Always Lose Child Custody in Orlando?

If you’re an alcoholic, you might be concerned about the amount of time you’ll spend with your kids after a breakup or divorce. While it’s true that the family court considers substance abuse issues when making decisions about child time sharing, these decisions also involve many other factors. Alcoholism does not automatically “disqualify” you from being a parent, but you might need to approach the case carefully alongside an experienced custody attorney in Orlando.

When Does Alcoholism Affect Child Custody in Florida?

Alcoholism and substance abuse in general affect child custody when it endangers the child or otherwise impacts their best interests. The family court focuses entirely on the child’s best interests when approaching this decision. Everything else is relatively meaningless.

This means that if your alcoholism had negatively affected the child in the past, you might be less likely to gain shared custody or spend considerable amounts of time with the child after the divorce or breakup. For example, you might have driven drunk with the child in your vehicle. Perhaps you became so drunk that you forgot to pick up your child from soccer practice, leaving them waiting for hours. If you became violent or unpredictable when drunk, you might also struggle to gain much parenting time after the divorce or breakup.

Can I Still Spend Time With My Child if I’m an Alcoholic?

Yes, you should still be able to spend at least some time with your child, even if you’re struggling with alcoholism. Family courts effectively guarantee you visitation rights, even if your alcoholism has a track record of negatively affecting the child. Visitation involves spending a few hours with the child on a regular basis. These visits could be supervised.

If your alcoholism never negatively affected the child, it might not affect your parenting time either. For example, you might have indulged in alcoholic beverages only after your child went to sleep. Perhaps your child has never seen you drunk, and you did a very good job of keeping your addiction secret.

If you exhibit a willingness to get help, the court may also see your situation in a more positive light. The past does not have to define your future, and you might be able to continue spending plenty of time with your child as you recover from your addiction. You might also have an opportunity to modify your child custody after you “get clean.”

Can a Child Time Sharing Lawyer in Orlando Help Me? 

Alcoholism can be extremely challenging, and admitting you have a problem is a difficult first step. Once you recognize the issue, you can begin to take steps toward recovery. There is no reason why you can’t spend time with your kids while you go through the recovery process. If you want to fight for your parenting rights, consider speaking with a custody attorney in Orlando. Continue this conversation with Steve Marsee, P.A. today.

Sources:

 americanaddictioncenters.org/alcohol/support-recovery/child

kidshealth.org/en/teens/coping-alcoholic.html