How To Lose Custody

Since I happen to do a lot of family law work, and because my sister is an experienced family law attorney in California, she and I have had occasion to discuss the things that parents do that can really hurt their chances to either get awarded or lose custody of their children.

My sister tells me of a person who had custody of a daughter, and the battle to keep custody was quite hot. Facebook got involved, as it often does...

ASIDE: IF YOU USE SOCIAL NETWORKING, STFU ABOUT YOUR CASE, OFFSPRING, OR OPPOSING PARTY. IF YOU CAN'T STOP YOURSELF, DISABLE YOUR PROFILE.

This parent was to most a good parent, loving, kind, set appropriate boundaries, all the good stuff, but there was a fatal flaw. This parent thought it was really funny to dress the daughter up in outfits and costumes, complete with accessories, take pictures of her, and post these photos to Facebook.  This parent, after a game of dress-up including "gangster attire" and an unloaded gun, no longer has custody of the child.

I'm posting the picture below as an example - this photo has nothing to do with the above case, but it was on my Facebook newsfeed. Parents, be wise about these things. Once it's on the internet, it can never be erased.

It doesn't matter if the gun is a prop, or fake, or unloaded, or even tin foil wrapped up to look like a weapon. Be smart. Don't do this.