When it comes to child custody, the safety and well-being of your child is the top priority. Recent changes in Pennsylvania law, known as Kayden’s Law, have been made to ensure that children are better protected in custody disputes, particularly in cases involving child abuse.
What is Kayden’s Law?
Kayden’s Law was enacted in response to a tragic case involving Kayden Mancuso, a 7-year-old girl who lost her life during an unsupervised visit with her father. This heartbreaking incident led to a push for stronger protections for children involved in custody disputes where there is a reasonable concern of an ongoing risk of abuse.
The law, which is now in effect across Pennsylvania, aims to prevent similar tragedies by requiring courts to take additional precautions when making custody decisions.
How Does Kayden’s Law Affect Your Custody Case?
If you are involved in a custody dispute, especially one where domestic violence or child abuse is a concern, Kayden’s Law could have a significant impact on your case. Here’s how:
- Thorough Risk Assessments
- The law mandates that courts conduct detailed risk assessments whenever there are allegations of domestic violence or child abuse. This means that if you are concerned about your child’s safety with the other parent, the court will be required to take those concerns seriously and investigate thoroughly.
- Supervised Visitation
- In situations where there are credible allegations of abuse and reasonable concerns of an ongoing risk of abuse, Kayden’s Law strongly favors supervised visitation over unsupervised visits. This is a critical change that can help protect children from being placed in dangerous situations.
What Should You Do Next?
If you are concerned about your child’s safety in a custody dispute, it’s important to work with a family law attorney who understands the implications of Kayden’s Law. If you are in need of legal representation in a child custody matter, please contact Amanda Grant at agrant@utbf.com.
