Negotiations In Family Law
...what is in the best interest of a child. Yet, case law makes it clear that the religious practices of the parents and the proposed course of religious education may become relevant factors for the court to consider in determining custody or visitation. Recent statistics indicate that the divorce rate in the United States has reached fifty percent and shows no sign of decline. Polls show that Americans are become more religious and that bi-religious marriages are on the rise. When the parent informs the attorney that the opposing party will attempt to use his or her religious beliefs, practices, or affiliation to discredit the case, the practitioner
would state that there is no place for marriage in a best interest hearing and that judge would not tolerate such irrelevant evidence. However, the reality is that religious practice may become a relevant factor and to simply dismiss the possibility of religious attack may be detrimental to the parent in any effort to obtain custody or unrestricted visitation. Religious freedom is a sacred ideal in the United States and the protection of those rights is crucial. Amendment 1 of the Constitution of the United States provides that the "Congress shall make no laws respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Every parent is entitled to an objective and bias-free custody or visitation trial. When the opposition's pleading are filed with critics of the parent's religion, negative comparisons to cults and other pejorative and conclusory statements, the parents involved will not be able to get a fair hearing. As one court succinctly states "intervention in the matters of religion is a perilous adventure upon which the judiciary should be loath to embark."
Everyone knows of nightmare stories about divorce, involving huge legal bills, court battles, seething resentment and...
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