It appears that both child custody and child support issues are coming up between Bristol Palin and her ex-boyfriend Levi Johnston. Bristol Palin is Sarah Palin’s daughter and has been involved in several reality TV series.
Bristol Palin and Johnston have a 4-year-old son. In 2010, the two reached a child custody agreement regarding the child. In regards to legal custody of the child (decision-making authority regarding important issues involving the child), the agreement gave the two shared custody. In regards to physical custody of the child, the agreement gave Palin primary custody and Johnston visitation rights.
One of the issues that sometimes comes up in connection to child custody is child custody modification. Recently, Johnston has submitted a child custody modification request. He is requesting that the physical custody arrangement that the agreement set be changed. Specifically, he is asking that the arrangement be changed to an equal custody arrangement. It will be interesting to see what happens in this child custody modification matter as it progresses.
An issue that sometimes arises in relation to child support is alleged failure to pay child support. In the 2010 custody agreement, Johnston agreed to make child support payments to Palin. A representative of Palin has said that Johnston failed to make some of these agreed-to payments. Specifically, the representative said that Johnston was over $60,000 behind on child support payments as of mid-October.
Issues regarding child custody and child support, such as modification issues and failure to pay issues, can have many complicated aspects. Experienced family law attorneys understand these complexities and can help parents with the processes and negotiations that can come up in connection to child support and child custody issues.
Source: The Washington Post, “Johnston files petition for custody of 4-year-old child he shares with Bristol Palin,” Nov. 7, 2013