Can I Modify An Existing Child Custody Order if I Feel That My Child is in Danger?
In any Family Law situation involving children, Nevada judges will always first and foremost look to what is in the best interest of the children. For this reason, it follows that endangerment of a child would most certainly be a compelling reason for a judge to grant a modification of an existing custody arrangement.
Endangerment can include any instance of the following by either the parent or any third-party that the parent exposes the child to:
- Physical abuse
- Sexual abuse
- Mental abuse
- Psychological abuse
- Drug or alcohol abuse
- Concerning behavior related to mental health issues
Again, these situations do not necessarily have to be firsthand from the parent for the court to see it as endangerment. The court is predominantly concerned with these instances occurring in the environment the parent exposes the children to. For example, an endangerment case may be brought against a parent for any of the above instances occurring on the part of:
- Another person living with the parent and the child
- The parent’s partner or spouse
- The parent’s other children or children of the parent’s spouse
- A close friend or relative of the parent
- Any other element in the parent’s environment that the child is exposed to
These are only a few examples of situations or individuals involved where the court may find evidence of child endangerment. If for any reason, the judge was to find any of these situations are present around the child, their ruling may result in one or multiple of the following modifications:
- A modification of the existing custody and visitation arrangement
- Removing the parent in question’s physical custody rights
- Restricting overnight visitation with the parent in question
- Requiring supervised visitation during the child and the parent exchanges
If you feel that your child is in danger by any of these factors or any additional factors, please don’t hesitate to contact a family law attorney to get your child custody modification put in place to protect your child. To discuss the specifics of your situation in detail, contact our office to schedule a consultation. Our team can be reached at (702) 998-1188, info@ljlawlv.com, or by scheduling a consultation online.
For additional information on Child Custody or any other Family Law topic, be sure to check out our Family Law blog, podcast, and Family Law TV playlist on Youtube.