Men’s Divorce : Child Custody for Fathers – Common Questions

For Fathers, it may at times appear that the Mother has the upper hand in child custody battles and that the Women’s Charter favours the Mother.

However, this is a notion and not a fact. What you must always keep in mind is that the court’s first and foremost consideration will be your child’s interests and welfare.

Your child’s welfare is not measured in monetary terms, and it includes your child’s moral and religious welfare, physical well-being, ties of affection, happiness, comfort and security.

Parents are expected to place their children’s needs before their own.

What custody orders can I ask for in relation to my child?

There are 3 main types of orders which can be made in relation to your child:

Custody Order (Joint or Sole)

Custody is the right to make the more important, longer-term decisions concerning the upbringing and welfare of your child. Some major examples are decisions involving religion, education and medical treatment.

The court’s starting position is to give both parents the right to make such major decisions jointly, unless it can be shown that such an arrangement has proven to be completely unworkable, there has been serious child abuse or one parent has been absent in the child’s life.

Read More: Understanding Child Custody: Sole Custody & Joint Custody

Care and Control Order (i.e. Primary Residence of the child)

The party given care and control is the parent whom the child will live with on a day-to-day basis.
That parent is given the right to make the everyday decisions relating to the child, such as what the child will eat and wear on a daily basis.

Care and control can also be shared, where the child lives with each parent on a rotational or alternating basis.

Read More: Child Custody – Shared Care and Control Case Studies

Access Order

Access is given to the parent who does not have care and control of the child. Such orders can be governed by a court order or sorted out between parents privately. Types of access orders can be liberal, reasonable or supervised (accompanied).

Common access periods can be during weekdays, weekends, public and school holidays, as well as access on special occasions such as the child’s birthday, Father’s and Mother’s Day.

Where necessary, the above orders can also be modified over time, as the court is always attentive to the ongoing and evolving interests of your child.

Read More: What Happens if my Ex-Spouse Breaches a Child Arrangement Order?

Can a father obtain sole care and control of the child?

If your child is of a very tender age, and is still unable to express clearly which parent they wish to live with, the court is more likely to award sole care and control to the Mother, unless you can show that you have been the primary caregiver.

You can, however, consider asking for shared care and control if your child has not yet started a formal schooling routine, and can be shuttled easily from one parent to another. For many Fathers, this is the next best alternative to sole care and control.

Before requesting for shared care and control, do start making changes to your lifestyle to show the court that you are serious about playing an active role in your child’s upbringing.

For example, cut down on your working hours, or work from home (flexible work hours) if possible. The court will also consider your other lifestyle choices such as how often you smoke or gamble, how much time you spend bonding with your child, and how you have participated in your child’s health and studies.

Your residence and distance from the child is another consideration.

Read more: Child Custody Battles: 7 Things Dads Should Know

How will my wife’s adultery affect the custody orders I can pursue for our child?

Adultery only goes towards showing how your spouse has fallen short in her duties as your wife, but not how she has failed in her duties as a Mother.

If your wife’s adultery involves multiple partners, and she has led a promiscuous lifestyle that could put her in a bad light and might prevent her from being a good parent, such will be factors which may have a bearing on who gets care and control of your child.

Read more: A Woman`s Adultery

What should I do if I anticipate my wife will obstruct my access to our child?

In such situations, the court can grant a specific order for assisted access or appoint a parenting coordinator lawyer to assist in a parenting plan.

For assisted access, this involves facilitating your child’s transfer from one parent to the other at Family Service Centres or Neighbourhood Police Posts. The exchange will be supervised by professionally trained staff.

Such an arrangement helps to minimise contact and the potential for conflict between you and your wife.

If the court appoints a parenting coordinator, the appointed lawyer will work with parties to draw up a parenting plan, and monitor the progress over a period of 6 to 24 months.

The court also has the power to subsequently review how these access arrangements have been working out for both parents and the child.

Read More: What Happens if my Ex-Spouse Breaches a Child Arrangement Order?

We’re here for you

We have a dedicated family law team ready to listen, understand your situation, and advise you on:

• Child Custody & Maintenance issues;
• Access Arrangements;
• Parenting Plans;
• Relocation issues.

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