Can I Keep My Ex’s Significant Other Away From My Kids?

Written by Anthony Piccirilli

One of the issues that can become contentious in joint custody situations is when you or your child’s other parent dates. Whether you like the other boyfriend or girlfriend or not, you may have a variety of reasons for wanting to shield your child from that adult or the romantic relationship. You may wish to ask the court to order your child’s other parent to keep their significant other away from your child.

To learn more about your rights within a co-parenting situation, contact a Pittsburgh child custody lawyer from Pittsburgh Divorce & Family Law, LLC at (412) 471-5100 for a free and confidential consultation.

Controlling Who Is Around Your Child

You may or may not be able to stop the other parent’s significant other from being around your child.

In general, you do not have the power to dictate which adults are around your child when they are with the other parent. When you have your child, you can decide who is present. You can decide whether to introduce them to a romantic partner or not. When your child is with their other parent, that adult determines their company.

If you want to exert further control as to which adults participate in your child’s life, you either need the other parent’s agreement or evidence that your ex’s significant other is not safe or healthy for your child’s well-being.

Is There Concern Over Your Child’s Safety or Well-Being?

If you have legitimate concerns regarding your child’s safety and well-being around your ex’s significant other, contact one of our child custody lawyers immediately at (412) 471-5100.

If your ex’s significant other is abusive towards your child, then you may want to consider obtaining a Protection from Abuse Order.

Keep in mind that an individual’s past is not necessarily affirmative evidence that he or she is bad for your child. For example, a criminal conviction from years before does not mean the individual puts your child’s physical or mental health at risk.

You need to have information regarding that person’s current conduct before you can attempt to limit their access to your child. If there is evidence the new romantic partner is an alcoholic, addicted to drugs, or has recently been convicted for a violent crime, this provides you with a lawful reason to return to court on the issue.

How the Court Will Decide Who Can Be Around Your Child

A judge will be extremely hesitant to tell a parent they cannot introduce a new person to their child, particularly if a great deal of time has passed since the divorce or end of your relationship. Judges do not want to participate in one parent trying to control the other. However, a judge is interested in keeping your child safe and healthy.

If you return to court to address the other parent’s significant other’s presence in your child’s life, the judge will review the facts of the situation and determine whether your ex’s significant other’s involvement is within your child’s best interests. If there is no evidence that the other adult is detrimental to your child’s physical health, mental well-being, or physical and mental growth, then you will likely have to live with their presence in your child’s life.

However, there are many things that can point to the other parent’s significant other not being in your child’s best interests. If you have a bad feeling about the situation, you should reach out to a lawyer anyway. We will investigate the circumstances and collect evidence to support your case.

Call Our Child Custody Lawyers for Help Today

If you are worried about another adult’s presence in your child’s life because of a health or safety issue, call a Pittsburgh family lawyer from Pittsburgh Divorce & Family Law, LLC as soon as possible.

Our lawyers will first review your child’s custody situation to determine the other parent’s current rights and obligations. We will then look into your concerns regarding your ex’s significant other. Once we have additional information, we can try to work with your child’s other parent directly and advise you on whether returning to court on this issue is a good idea.

For more information on your options and rights, contact us online or at (412) 471-5100 to schedule a consultation.