There are a lot of divorce and family law issues that can become contentious, but in a lot of cases none are more important than those pertaining to child custody and visitation. That’s one reason why superstar actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have been battling over custody of their children for years now. The couple has six children total, five of whom are the subject of the dispute. While the exact terms of their custody arrangement are unclear at this time, the case seems to have taken a bit of a turn.
Jolie’s request to disqualify judge denied
Recently, Jolie moved to have the judge hearing her divorce and custody case disqualified, claiming that he unfairly denied her request to have her children testify. According to Jolie, the children’s testimony is important for the court to accurately determine what sort of arrangement protects the children’s health and safety, as well as for the court to consider whether Pitt’s alleged domestic violence should play into the court’s custody determination. She also alleges that the judge has a conflict after having prior business dealings with one of Pitt’s attorneys.
Pitt’s take on the case
The couple’s divorce came after an incident on a plane from France to Los Angeles, where Jolie claims that Pitt became abusive towards one of their children. Pitt has consistently denied these allegations, and child welfare workers took no formal action on the matter. As for Jolie’s most recent request to disqualify the judge, Pitt believes that the move is unwarranted. Pitt claims that the judge has been fair and made the decision to disallow the children from testifying after hearing evidence on the appropriateness of such a move. Where this case goes from here is unclear, but it’s almost certain to remain contentious, with Jolie vowing to appeal a negative ruling.
Be prepared to address your child custody issues
Even if you’re not a celebrity like Angelina Jolie or Brad Pitt, your child custody dispute may be more like theirs than you think. Child custody fights come in all shapes and sizes with varying levels of contention. They can be challenging to deal with for parents who are trying to cope with their emotions, which is why skilled family law attorneys stand ready to help.