A Highly Respected Team Makes All The Difference
Agreeing workable custody arrangements can be nearly impossible when your co-parent cannot recognize other people’s needs. When a co-parent is a narcissist or has narcissistic tendencies, difficult custody disputes are a common result.
Our experienced family law team understands how a narcissist affects custody in Atlanta, GA. With that knowledge, our attorneys can help by advocating for a custody plan that prioritizes your children.
Narcissists rarely handle divorce well. Even when a marriage has not been working for years, they struggle to accept failure. In many cases, they will convince themselves that their spouse is wholly at fault for the divorce and they are the aggrieved party.
It is not unusual for narcissistic parents who have not previously been engaged with their children to demand full custody. Our Atlanta family law attorneys often advise Georgia parents to keep detailed records of their narcissistic spouse’s interactions with the children to prove that the spouse’s interest in day-to-day parenting is superficial.
Custody disputes serve no one, and children are the most likely to suffer. Sometimes, it is possible to negotiate a reasonable custody arrangement, especially if your spouse is willing to accept advice from their legal representative. However, negotiations with narcissists are often unsuccessful, and under those circumstances, you must be prepared for a legal fight.
The Official Code of Georgia § 19-9-3 provides each parent with an equal opportunity for custody, provided the arrangement serves the children’s best interests. The law lists multiple factors judges may consider when determining whether this is the case. Most of the factors center on the children’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being and their need for stability.
When the narcissistic parent has not been active in the children’s daily life, your Atlanta, Georgia, attorney can highlight their lack of familiarity with the children’s specific needs, habits, and preferences. If the narcissistic parent has been uncooperative in negotiating a custody agreement, you can demonstrate their unwillingness to compromise for the children’s sake.
At the same time, you must prove that you can provide the home that best promotes your children’s ability to reach their potential. Showing that you are intimately familiar with their needs and are prepared to meet them can persuade the judge to grant your desired custody arrangement.
Narcissists are often charming and can make a good impression on others. Some narcissistic parents are skilled at undermining their co-parents and ensuring that they are their children’s favorite. This can pose a problem if the children are old enough for the judge to consider their preference when making custody arrangements.
Children aged 14 and older can state which parent they prefer to live with, and a court will honor their decision unless it is contrary to their best interests. Judges will also consider the opinions of children between the ages of 11 and 14 but will determine how much importance to grant these opinions in each case.
There are steps you can take when older children express a preference to live with their narcissistic parent rather than with you. An attorney on our Atlanta, Georgia, family law team could ask the court to appoint a custody evaluator to explore the reasons for the child’s preference and determine their best interest—potentially revealing your co-parent’s narcissistic behaviors. In other cases, it may be best to support the child’s decision and reassure them that they are welcome to live with you if the arrangement does not work as they had hoped.
It is always best to settle custody amicably. Unfortunately, when your co-parent is a narcissist, it may be necessary to take your custody issues to court and ask the judge to decide where your children should live.
Our family law professionals know from experience how a narcissist affects custody in Atlanta, GA. Being prepared can make all the difference, so contact our intake team today.