Children are always a parent’s top priority, and that concern outlasts a marriage that is irretrievably broken. It is a simple truth that occurs to any parent in a situation endangering a child’s welfare. Nothing is more important than a child’s safety.
Single and divorced parents may find themselves overwhelmed by the extra responsibility of no or limited coordination with a spouse. Parents have to use their relationship with children to judge and provide for their best interests.
A caretaker for a child found herself under arrest when a toddler under her care wandered from home into a neighbor’s pool. The charge is child neglect after the child was found in fine health at the shallow end of the water.
Fortunately, there was no permanent harm when the caretaker fell asleep while the child’s mother was at work. But child neglect, a third-degree felony under Florida law, can carry a penalty of up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. The caretaker is now free on bail.
Any hazardous condition for child care may be judged to be against the interests of that child. If you are ever concerned about the safety of a child under a spouse’s care or choice of care, you may request a custody hearing to reevaluate the child’s best interests.
A lawyer experienced in child custody law and procedure can help negotiate the legal difficulties of events that deeply affect children’s lives, such as divorce and relocation. A negotiated parenting schedule and child custody arrangement may protect your children’s future.
Source: Palm Beach Post, “Florida child found naked in pool leads to woman’s arrest,” Julius Whigham II, July 05, 2017
