Who should get custody of the child in this situation?

Question

Mike and Jennifer are married, and have one child who is 6 years old. Jennifer and Mike get divorced, and both want physical custody of their child. Jennifer has become a stripper during the divorce proceedings and earns over $100,000 per year. Mike is a teacher and earns $40,000 per year. Mike claims that his environment would be more suitable for the child, disapproves of the stripper lifestyle, and says he will be home with the child more (particularly at night which is when Jennifer would be stripping). Jennifer claims that she is the mother and wants her child with her, and she earns more money so she should have custody and Mike can kick in support from his salary and have visitation.

Neither has a criminal record or a known drug or alcohol problem. They will not agree or compromise, they want you to be the judge.

Who should get physical custody of the child?

Answer 1

So long as the mother isn't whoring around, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the mother's profession. My sister had no problem raising two very well rounded and adjusted sons, both of which did not know her "true" job which at the time was stripping. They both received great educations, were always provided with the basics of life and more, and all the other wonderful things you'd expect to hear from a normal family life.

What about the mothers out there who seem to be so normal? They take their children to the parks to play, they go on family vacations; attend EVERY single PTA meeting; bakes cupcakes for the childrens' birthdays... then BAM! The mother snaps and drowns her children; drives them over a clif; beats them and then locks them in a closet until they die, then takes the remains into the woods and burns her child's remains?

ALL of the above situations happened to mothers who led "normal" lives, working "normal" jobs.... what then?

I think the reasonable scenario would play out like this... Mike and Jennifer have made the decision to end their marriage. Their marriage is over, their lifetime commitment to each other as their child's parents is not... they get their heads out of their asses and realize that they can both raise their child as a team rather than piss poor antics that will only scar the child more.

As long as the father and mother can have a civil parenting relationship, then there should be no qualms. It's going to be hell for the child and the parents. By default, I think the child should be with the mother and an open relationship and partnership with the father should remain open.

Answer 2

well the state will decide
the parent who the kid is most close to, who cares, cleans up after, and cuddles the kid most.
every ones case differs from the next but the mother will more than likely get custody if she is proven to be unfit.
I lived with my dad but not until after I could choose to.
If the mother can take care of the child and the father can just as well then there is a thing that if you live in the same school district then you can have equal rights and get the kids equal time and no one pays child support, but you have to agree on it.
that is what my brother does so it is through the court.
I think if the mother doesn't need the money she might agree on that and you can make your own times for visitation, and the father can keep insurance on the kids. and that is fair right
Talk about it maybe you can work out something

Answer 3

What will happen is the judge most likely will send someone from family court to do a home study and the custody may go to the parent that will be the better parent that will be able to give the child more time and be a better influence.It doesn't matter who makes the most money that only pays a factor in child support.. Most likely it will go to the teacher because the courts are gonna look down on a mother that strips.

Answer 4

Well 2day there is nothing wrong with being a stripping, and as long as she don't put her child in harms ways, than Jennifer should. If she was a 9 2 5 mother, it would b no question, now I would like 2 c that they could shear custody, but if not than Jennifer. Not because she makes more money, just because in this country, well mostly it's the mother .That's my opinion!

Answer 5

First off, my answer is based on NO religious bias.
I think that it would be more suitable for the father to care for the child as having a parent who is an occupational stripper is not the best influence for career choice as the child will grow up to think that being a stripper is perfectly fine, when in fact, it is not a good job; or at least not a job where you can be respected. Having a teacher for a father to live with will give the child a good, strong environment to grown up in, where he can help the child grow intellectually as a scholar.

Answer 6

As long as she's a responsible parent, i think the child is better off with the mother. just because she found a fun and exciting way to legally make lots of money doesn't mean she's not a good mom. Can't they try 50/50 custody? if he's a teacher, he could have the child during the summer.

Answer 7

they would most likely get joint. I have to disagree with everyone who says jennifer is unfit solely bcus of her career. we don't know her circumstances, of course she could always have been a secretary but maybe she saw stripping as a way to better life for her child seeing as how she lost his income. i mean regardless of the money, the asker did not say that either parent was bad or abusive. Would the same excuse be used for a couple who spilt and now the father is homosexual? is he unfit bcus his sexuality is a bad example for his child? sorry i used that as an example since it is also looked down upon by society. Anyway the point was her job doesn't make her unfit and his income doesn't make him unfit either. they both sound like decent parents so they will both more than likely be awarded joint.

Answer 8

why is she a stripper? what did she do for a living when they were together? How is she going to get child care in the middle of the night? So mike should get residental custody..meaning the child lives with him but his mother has joint raising of the child and can see and take her child when she wishes upon agreement between the two of them.

Answer 9

Mike, definitely.
its not always about the money, but being there for the child, and the type of environment that the child will grow up in.
Jeniffer could have all the money in the world, but that means nothing when the child grows up without her around when he needs his mother the most.

Answer 10

Without question.Mike should get physical custody. Jennifer should have limited visitation rights and pay child support to Mike. Jennifer provides a poor role model for her child.