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There are a number of reasons why couples decide to get a divorce. Sometimes it just isn’t working out and the two people involved realize they are not in love. There are time when one party has been unfaithful. There are other times when things are even more serious and there is substance abuse or severe mental issues. These are legit reasons to dissolve a marriage. If you are in a position where your marriage has ended due to some personal issue that you have and you are hoping to get full custody of your kids, you are in for a very difficult journey.
The issue when it comes to custody battles of parents who are involved in rehab is that it shows a need for major personal growth. It also signifies an unstable living environment for the children. This might not be the case, but the court must judge thinks based on the norm and that happens to be the norm.
Perhaps the best course of action for you is to avoid going after custody right away. You will obviously need some rights to the kids, but you might have to be agreeable to just letting weekends be the base for your visitation. You want to look for more shared custody of your children when you are in the best possible position for yourself. If you are not finished with therapy, or past your personal demons then you might be looking at a lot of legal fees and not any more visitation to show for it.
The important thing isn’t to get the custody you want, it’s to get yourself better for your children. You can’t be a good parent unless you take care of yourself. In order to do that you need to get professional help. Don’t make the mistake of confusing what you need with what you want. Take care of yourself then you’ll be the best parent you can be.
