Anyone in Virginia with children likely knows that parenting is difficult, even in the best of circumstances. While there are certainly challenges to parenting alone, many parents who are no longer in a romantic relationship also struggle to decide what is in the best interests of their children. In fact, actor Jeremy Renner and his ex-wife have recently filed petitions with the court, both asking for sole custody.
The former couple shares a 6-year-old daughter. Reports indicate that Renner’s ex-wife filed for divorce in Dec. 2014 after 10 months of marriage. Though they currently share custody, the mother filed for sole custody in September; she is also requesting that visitation with Renner be monitored.
Renner reportedly filed a similar request soon after, requesting sole custody and requesting that the little girl’s visits with her mother be monitored. The parents were ordered to attend mediation. They are scheduled to return to court in Nov. 2019.
There are many former couples in Virginia and across the country who are able to co-parent with relatively little conflict. However, that is not the case for everyone. There are a variety of reasons why a parent may decide that seeking sole custody is in the best interests of their child. In such a situation, the parent will likely want an experienced family law attorney to ensure that his or her concerns are adequately addressed with the court. Mediation can be successful for many couples, but in some situations, it becomes necessary for a family court to intervene and make a determination.