Connecticut Family Lawyer
posted in Child Custody
on Friday, August 10, 2012.
Many Connecticut residents can appreciate people’s love of college basketball. Many are fans of the men’s and women’s University of Connecticut basketball teams, both of which have won multiple national titles. One man from a neighboring state used his love of college basketball as a unique solution to his and his ex-wife’s child custody settlement.
The man had noticed on his ex-wife’s custody proposal that she would have custody of their two children on four Jewish holidays and half of the children’s winter break from school. The Catholic man had planned to ask for custody on Easter, so he needed to think of more days that were special to him.
The man requested St. Patrick’s Day, Super Bowl Sunday and the NCAA men’s title game if Syracuse University made it that far. The man said that cheering for Syracuse sports is more important to him than many holidays, and that it is something that he wanted to share with his children, since it was a family tradition.
The man said that the attorneys for both he and his ex-wife said that it was an unprecedented request, but it was eventually included in the custody agreement. The man wanted to reserve other basketball dates, but he decided against it because he did not want to give up any other dates.
Through a negotiation, both parents were able to have custody on dates that are important to them and will be shared with their children. This is how an effective negotiation can work. As long as both parents are keeping their children’s best interests at heart, it can be worked out.
Source: Yahoo Sports, “Syracuse fan makes unusual custody request in divorce settlement,” Jeff Eisenberg, July 27, 2012
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