Michigan residents who are going through a child custody dispute may be interested to learn that, on Jan. 26, Robin Thicke was denied custody of his 6-year-old son. Further, a restraining order against Thicke was filed, preventing him from contacting the child and Paula Patton, the child’s mother.
The custody dispute came to a head when Patton accused Thicke of spanking the child. Patton noted that when she asked about the spankings, the child’s behavior changed and he became angry. Staff at the child’s school also provided independent statements, indicating that the child told them that his father hit him and that he did not want to be near him.
On Jan. 13, Patton went before a judge and stated that she was concerned regarding the forms of punishment he used and his alcohol and drug use. The judge had denied Patton’s request for modified custody and supervised visitation previously. Thicke’s attorney stated that Thicke had been investigated by the Department of Children and Family Services and the case had been dismissed. In the meantime, DCFS was investigating Patton for emotional abuse.
When parents cannot agree on visitation and custody, child custody lawyers may assist with coming to a solution that works in the best interest of the child and of the parent. If there is evidence that the other parent is abusive, an attorney may assist with gathering evidence of the abuse and work with the court to modify the custody order. If immediate action is needed, the attorney may also help the parent file an order of protection to prevent further harm until a solution can be reached.
Source: Radar Online, “Court Bombshell: Robin Thicke Loses Custody Of Son“, Jan. 26, 2017