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How can stepparents influence custody modifications?

Indiana divorcees require a significant change in circumstances if they want to change the court’s order on child custody. This could range from one of the spouses getting a new job that dramatically increases or decreases their salary or one of them deciding to move out of the state. These are major complications that can affect how one parent raises the child, so they could serve as an opportunity for the noncustodial parent to get more time with them.

One of the more common life changes that affects court orders is if one of the spouses marries someone else. The other spouse might use this as an opportunity to request for a decrease in child support or alimony since they have better financial support. However, there is a chance that getting a new member for the family might warrant a change in the initial child custody orders. Whether or not you were the one who remarried, you should remain aware of how a divorcee can use this to alter custody conditions for your child.

The advantages

If it is the noncustodial parent that remarries, they might have a more convincing argument now to spend additional time with the kid. They will likely not have as many financial problems as they did before, and the child can now remain with two parents at once rather than one at a time.

Even though the stepparent doesn’t have legal custody of the child right away, the court may recognize that the married parent may provide a better environment to raise the child in. Having two parents around the house can make parenting significantly easier.

The downsides

The stepparent can also potentially distract the biological parent from performing their duties. Maybe the stepparent came into their marriage with a child of their own and it is difficult for them to be looking after two children from two different marriages. The new marriage may also mean the biological parent has to move away from Indiana to be with the stepparent, and the court may think it is too drastic of a change for the child.

Unfortunately, some stepparents don’t think much of their partner’s kid and may create a harmful environment for them in the process. If they make it too dangerous for the kid, the other parent can try to acquire more custody to keep their child safe.

Prior history

Having an ex-spouse gain a new partner is an awkward phase in any divided family, but the conditions leading up to it may also affect custody. If this stepparent had a relationship with the spouse during their former marriage (and might be the reason it’s a “former” marriage), then the court may not think highly of them for how it impacted the family as a whole. If they weren’t around for that, then the court will examine how the spouses and child are currently impacted by the stepparent’s presence.

Requesting a custody change due to a new marriage can be stressful, so make sure you know someone with experience in dealing with Indiana family law matters to help you through this difficult period.