Starting a business is not easy. It can be a lot of work and if you are spending a lot of time with it, you may not see your family very often. You are doing this for them, but it can come back to have a big impact on you if you are going through a custody battle during a divorce. There are several things to know when you are going through a divorce as an entrepreneur, and how it will impact child custody.
First, the history is going to matter. If you are an entrepreneur, you may not have spent much time with your kids while you are getting the business going. As a result, does the fact you didn’t spend a lot of time with your family mean that you should be penalized in the custody battle? For the most part, most courts are going to go with a 50/50 custody schedule, which gives both parents the same amount of time with the child. That being said, the judge is going to take into consideration many different factors to do with custody. One of the most common questions is going to be who is the primary caregiver. If you are away a lot working, then your spouse is the primary caregiver.
The judge is also going to look at how often a parent travels away from home. If you are an entrepreneur, travel may be one of the biggest parts of the job. If you are someone who has to travel a lot, then the chances of getting a 50/50 custody agreement are less likely.
Even if the schedule is not the best for you once it is decided, one of the most important things to remember is that it is always modifiable. If you are given minimal time with your child because you are away working, the schedule can be modified when there is a change in circumstances. So even though you may not get the schedule you want now, that doesn’t mean you won’t get the schedule you want later.
No matter what, make sure that you are a visibly good parent. If you are making an effort to spend quality time with your child, then a witness in a custody hearing is going to speak on your excellent parenting skills. They are going to comment on the fact that you do spend as much time with your child as you can, even though you are often away working to raise money for the family.
It is also important to think outside the box with your custody agreement schedule. If you have an agreement rather than having a judge decide, you really can figure out a schedule that works for everyone.