As a young, single man who loved watching the “true crime” shows back in the day, I always marveled at why someone would kill a spouse. You know you’re going to be the prime suspect…why do it? Why not just divorce someone? Sometimes, it seems that divorce is just not good enough for some folks. There is a reason they need that spouse gone…like permanently gone. The vast majority of these cases are motivated by one of three things: 1. Paramour; 2. Money; 3. Child Custody.

For our purposes today, we’re talking about child custody disputes. I never understood the crazy thoughts that enter the mind until I felt like someone was threatening the relationship I have with my children. Now, I get it. As I watched the last half of Kill Bill 2 recently, I was reminded of how strong those feelings can be.

Those of you familiar with the Kill Bill films will remember that Uma Thurman’s character, aka, Black Mamba, aka Beatrix Kiddo, is the deadliest female alive; a highly trained assassin. She has a romantic relationship with her boss, Bill, and that relationship results in a child, B.B.. The pregnancy and birth of the child cause a great deal of consternation and results in a deadly conflict between Bill and Beatrix. In the climactic scene of Kill Bill 2, she uses the five point palm-exploding heart technique to end the dispute once and for all. The movie ends with Beatrix escaping with B.B.; problem solved.

Those of us who have been through custody battles know that it rarely ends up settled so neatly. The Circuit Courts of Mobile County, Alabama frown on the use of the five point palm-exploding heart technique to settle child custody disputes. When you divorce and you have children, you are still connected to your estranged spouse. Sooner or later, one of two things happen.

You either figure out a way to get along, or you (or your estranged spouse) act so crazy during the process that you (or them) destroy your children’s ability to form and maintain meaningful relationships in the future. Recently, there’s evidence to suggest that true joint physical custody is what’s best for your kids.  Here’s a good review on the subject from Steven Eversole in Birmingham:

http://www.birminghamdivorceblog.com/2015/05/articles/alabama-child-custody-visitation/new-study-shows-children-of-divorce-who-live-with-both-parents-are-less-stressed/

I’m not saying that true joint physical custody is desirable or even possible in every case. What I am saying is that focusing on your children’s needs, rather than your own, is one way you can lay the foundation for a successful post-divorce life and healthy, well-adjusted children. If you feel like you are heading for a showdown, call me at 251-445-0891, or email me at ron@mcbaylaw.com. We’ll come up with an alternative to the five point palm-exploding heart technique.

The post A Custody Dispute Killed Bill in Mobile, AL appeared first on The Law Offices of Teague and McBay.