The feud between Icelandic diva Björk and former partner Matthew Barney has come to a head once more as Barney seeks more parenting time with daughter Isadora, or Doa for short.
The duo split in 2013 and Barney has made it clear that he is unhappy with the way that Björk is raising Doa. He claims that Björk is sacrificing their daughter’s well-being in favor of what he calls selfish desires.
Björk allegedly blamed Barney entirely for the breakdown of the relationship and the end of their intact family, and as such, she believes she deserves greater parental rights over their daughter. Barney asserts that this is not true, and commented on 12-year-old Doa’s expressed desire to spend equal amounts of time with her mother and father.
Is the Will of the Child Taken Into Account in Child Custody Battles?
In Colorado, there are no set rules on who gets primary child custody. There are also no set age limits on a child’s personal decision of which parent to live with. If the child is sufficiently mature to express a reasoned and independent preference for parenting time schedules, the court will consider the child’s wishes in determining primary parental care. Ultimately, though, it is the will of the judge to determine where the child stays that is in the child’s best interest.
Along with child preference, the courts will look at:
- What the parents want
- The child’s school, community and home life
- Physical and mental health of the parents and child
- Each parent’s ability and willingness to provide a loving relationship between the child and the other parent
- Physical proximity of the parents’ residences
- Each parent’s ability to put the child’s needs above his or her own
If you or your child wishes to change a parenting time arrangement, you should enlist the services of a dedicated family law attorney.
Divorce Matters ”“ Denver Family Law Attorneys