Kansas parents who have recently navigated divorce no doubt understand how challenging and stressful court proceedings can be. Especially if co-parents disagree about child custody issues, it can take weeks, even months, to achieve a fair settlement. Many readers have followed news regarding the divorce and subsequent court hearings between Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.
Jolie initially filed for divorce in 2006 after accusing Pitt of being intoxicated and abusive toward one of their sons on an airplane. The situation led to Pitt’s admission that he was addicted to alcohol, a condition for which he sought treatment. At one point, his visits with his children were restricted to supervision.
The exact details of Jolie’s recently filed petition are being kept private. She reportedly has asked the court to order a child custody evaluation of five of her children. Such a request is often prompted by a parent’s suspicion of child neglect or abuse by the other parent. A parent who believes a co-parent is mentally ill or has a substance abuse problem that is placing kids at risk could also ask the court to intervene.
Child custody cases like the one between Jolie and Pitt are often complex and difficult to resolve. Most Kansas parents understand the benefit of seeking experienced legal support before heading to court. It is a lot less stressful to present one’s case by allowing an experienced family law attorney to advocate on one’s behalf than it is to try to resolve such issues on one’s own.