Illinois residents who are involved in a child custody dispute may be interested to hear about the current state of the custody battle between R&B singer Usher and his ex-wife. The couple’s 5-year-old son was recently injured after getting caught in a pool drain. After the incident, the boy’s mother requested an emergency hearing seeking temporary primary custody of the child as well as authority to make decisions on behalf of the child.
The accident occurred when the child fell to the bottom of the pool and became stuck in the drain. A contractor who had been performing work at the home pulled the boy from the pool and performed CPR. When emergency medical workers arrived the child was breathing and alert. Soon after the incident Usher’s ex-wife filed papers with the court saying that the child suffered a near-death accident while left unsupervised at the home of his father. Usher reports that his aunt was supervising the child when the accident occurred.
The judge dismissed the mother’s request saying that based on the evidence presented at the hearing he was not certain whether anyone could have done anything to prevent the accident. The judge advised Usher, however, that he should keep his ex-wife advised of his whereabouts and who was caring for the child.
Usher and his ex-wife divorced in 2009 and Usher was awarded primary custody of the couple’s two boys. Child custody decisions are made based on the child’s best interest. A court will determine a child’s best interest based on the health of each parent, the child’s wishes and the child’s need for a stable home environment, along with several other factors. Sometimes it is in the child’s best interest to have a joint custody arrangement, where the child spends time with each parent equally. Other times it is in the child’s best interest for one parent to have primary physical custody while the other parent has visitation rights.
Child custody situations can become heated when both parents desperately want to spend time with their child. However, by working with the court, an agreement can be made that is beneficial to all parties involved.
Source: Time, “Judge sides with Usher in child custody battle,” Kate Brumback, Aug. 9, 2013