Does Work-Life Imbalance Have an Effect on Child Custody?

 Posted on August 23, 2024 in Family Law

Many parents with demanding, time-consuming jobs struggle to balance work and day-to-day obligations with spending time with their children. When parents divorce, the situation can feel even more difficult. It can be frustrating to try to squeeze in a career you trained for and love around a parenting plan that requires daily, specific child-care obligations.

Perhaps even worse, if your divorce is particularly contentious, your spouse may use your job to seek primary child custody. If you truly believe that it is in your child’s best interests for you to be awarded primary custody, it can be exasperating to be forced to prove your job will not interfere with your ability to parent.   

If you understand the potential "landmines" going in, you may be better able to achieve the custody situation that you want while ensuring your children do not suffer. Should you find yourself in such a tough situation, it is crucial that you contact an experienced Novi, MI child custody lawyer from Elkouri Heath, PLC. Our attorneys have been serving clients throughout southeastern Michigan for more than 23 years.

Which Careers Can Create a Work-Life Imbalance?

The following are often considered the "worst" jobs as far as tipping the scales on the work-life imbalance end, usually because of long hours or erratic work schedules:

• Marketing Specialist
•  Lawyer
• Surgeon
• Pharmacist
• Chief Executive
• Retail Salesperson
• Tour Guide
• Cook/Chef
• Reporter
• Truck Driver

Lawyers who are just starting out typically work 60-plus hours per week, while surgeons often work both long and erratic hours, as do chefs, reporters, truck drivers, and marketing specialists. Tour guides and retail salespersons have low median salaries, so overtime work is common.  

Will a Demanding Job Affect Your Child Custody?

If your spouse has a job with relatively normal hours, he or she may use this against you if the hours you work are long and/or erratic. While this can be distressing, the judge will consider a variety of factors when determining custody, with the overriding factor being the best interests of the child. The goal of all family courts is to ensure the child is happy, safe, and healthy. If the judge believes you can provide those things despite your demanding job, then primary custody is definitely on the table.  

Always Keep Your "Typical" Work Schedule in Mind When Making a Parenting Plan

A parenting plan details when each parent has the child, as well as which parent takes the child to school and picks them up after, which parent handles after-school activities, and which parent has weekends and holidays. Pick-up and drop-off times and places will be included in the parenting plan, and many parents have a right of first refusal as a part of their plan.

This means that if the parent who is supposed to have the child has a work, family, or medical issue, he or she must ask the other parent to care for the child before leaving the child with a family member or babysitter. If one parent has a demanding job while the other has more flexibility because he or she works remotely, then design the parenting plan with these facts in mind. Pre-plan activities to make the most of the time you have with your child so you can create memorable moments and avoid the feeling that you are missing out on his or her childhood.

Contact an Oakland County, MI Child Custody Lawyer to Schedule a Free Consultation

At Elkouri Heath, PLC, we fully recognize the many emotional challenges that go hand-in-hand with divorce and custody issues. Every client receives compassionate, highly customized representation and personalized attention throughout the entire process. If you are struggling with a child custody issue because of your demanding career, contact a Northville, MI child custody lawyer from Elkouri Heath, PLC. To schedule your free consultation, call 248-344-9700.