Search    Need help with your search? Find Legal Help On Visitation Related Resources Moving When You Have a Custody Order By: Legal Services Alabama The Protection Hearing By: Legal Services Alabama Getting and Keeping Custody of Your Children By: Legal Services Alabama more...

Click here to quickly escape this page 

 When can I get custody of my children?

• At the hearing on your PFA petition, the judge will decide who gets custody.
• This hearing will be about two weeks after you filed the case.

My husband says he will get custody. Will he?

• An abuser often says that if his victim ever leaves him, he will get custody of the children.
• In fact, most men do not even ask for legal custody.
• They threaten to get custody to try and keep you in the relationship.
• Even if he gets a lawyer and asks for custody, it is very hard for him to get custody if he has been violent with you or other family members.

What can I do to make it more likely I'll get custody?

• Read Getting and Keeping Custody of Your Children.
• Be ready to testify about your husband's abuse of you.

Will my husband get visitation with the children?

• Yes. Your husband will get visitation as long as he has a suitable place for the visitation, and he can take proper care of your children. It is very hard to prove that he can't.
• The judge usually grants what is called standard visitation.

What is standard visitation?

• This is every other weekend from 6 p.m. on Friday to 6 p.m. on Sunday; 4 weeks in the summer; from 3 p.m. on Christmas Day to 3 p.m. on January 2; and Father's Day weekend.

Can I keep my husband from getting standard visitation?

• This is hard. Most judges want children to spend time with both parents.
• Sometimes, the judge will give less visitation if your children are infants or very young.
• If you can prove that your husband would be likely to harm or neglect your children if they were left in his care, you can get his visitation supervised.
• If you are worried about your children being alone with your husband, be sure to talk with your lawyer or shelter worker early about this. Make sure they know what you are afraid might happen. And why.
• You will need to work with your lawyer or shelter worker to get evidence to show why you and your children would be at risk.

How does supervised visitation work?

• You usually have to find someone that you trust to supervise the visitation.
• Some sheriff's offices and police stations have rooms for supervised visitation.
• Under no circumstances can you supervise the visitation. Supervised visitation cannot be in your home.
• During any visitation, your husband has a chance to hurt you.
• Do what you can to stay safe. Do not let your abuser take advantage of visitation to harm, threaten or try to control you.

Should I let my husband visit with the children before I get custody?

• This is usually a bad idea.
• If you let him have the children for a visit, he may not return them.
• If he doesn't bring the children back, you may not see them until after the hearing.
• Talk to your lawyer or shelter worker before letting your children visit your husband.
• Think of other ways to let your husband know the children are safe.
• You could let him talk to the children over the phone.
• You could pass information through someone your husband trusts.

What if my husband does not bring the children back after a weekend?

• You should call the police or the sheriff. See if they will help you.
• If you do not get the children Sunday evening, you can get a court order on Monday telling the sheriff pick the children up and return them to you.