You may have heard an urban myth that goes something like, “The mother always wins in child custody cases.” Sometimes, it’s phrased a bit differently: “Unless there’s something wrong with her, the mother always wins child custody battles.”
The tidbit may even be offered as a reassurance for a mom who is contemplating filing for divorce. A helpful friend reassures the mom by saying, “Don’t worry. The mom always wins a child custody dispute.” Or the advice may be offered to console a mom who is in the middle of a child custody battle. As the mother voices her concerns, the friend shoots down the mother’s fears by exclaiming, “But moms always get to keep their kids!”
Well, guess what. That’s not true! Recent high-profile custody battles highlight this fact. For example:
- Tameka Foster recently lost custody of her sons to her ex-husband, the R&B singer Usher.
- “Gossip Girl” star Kelly Rutherford lost a custody battle with her ex-husband Daniel Giersch.
- Siohvaughn Wade lost custody of her children to her ex-husband Dwayne Wade of the Miami Heat.
- Britney Spears’ ex-husband Kevin Federline was granted custody of their kids.
Just being female and the kids’ mom isn’t enough to guarantee that you will win in a heated custody battle. This presumption is outdated and simply no longer true. Contact a San Francisco family lawyer who exclusively represents women in child custody disputes for more information. You may reach Paul Nathan of the Law Offices of Paul H. Nathan at 415-341-1144 or by filling out our online contact form.
