If you are looking to seek custody of your child, where and how you live matters. A judge will want to be sure that when your child lives with you, it does so in safety.
You and your co-parent are unlikely to have identical living circumstances after divorce. Yet, one person having a nicer house does not mean a judge will automatically favor them when awarding custody. Judges know that divorce can hit people’s financial situations hard and that it can take one party longer than the other to get back on their feet.
So what do judges consider?
Are you sharing with anyone else?
Sharing accommodation can work for or against you. For instance, moving back in with your parents may reassure a judge that the child will be well looked after. Moving in with a new partner who has a history of drug abuse could have the opposite effect and cause the judge to be concerned for your child’s well-being.
What is the local area like?
Your home may be cozy inside. Yet, what if your child has to walk past hustlers or drug addicts to get between there and school each day? Your neighborhood could present a danger to your child.
Space inside the house
Does your child need their own bedroom? No. Aside from the fact you might not be able to afford that, some studies show that having kids share bedrooms has substantial benefits.
Custody arrangements depend on so many variables that there is no one answer to how your living arrangements will affect your custody chances. The courts want to find a way for both parents to share in their children’s lives. Having help to argue your custody case and show that the love you can give your child is more important than the fact you do not live in a palace will stand you and your child in good stead for the future.