Many Minnesota skiing fans are undoubtedly familiar with the name Bode Miller, the American skier who brought home the gold medal in Vancouver in 2010. The skier is currently preparing for his next appearance on the world’s stage in Sochi 2014. What many readers may not know, however, is that the man is also fighting another battle – a dispute over the custody of his nine-month-old son.
The issues arose even before the boy was born. Miller’s then-girlfriend was seven months pregnant when she moved from southern California, where Miller lived, to New York. A co-parenting agreement had not been made when she moved. According to Miller, she made the decision to move because she wanted the baby to be born in New York, where the child custody laws would perhaps favor her.
The woman argued that the move was made because she wished to attend Columbia University. A family court referee in New York, however, criticized her for leaving California before the child custody agreement was made. He sent the case back to that state, where a court ruled in favor of Bode Miller. The woman’s attorneys appealed, however. The appellate court ruled that the case should never have been taken out of New York, because the child was, by law, a New York resident. So, the decision was sent back to the New York courtroom, where it remains today.
Cross-country child custody disputes add an extra layer of complexity to the important decision that must be made. Often, the variety of laws that must be considered is immense, adding a significant amount of time it takes to reach a decision. In the end, however, the decision will be made in the best interests of the child, ensuring that he or she benefits from the best possible outcome.
Source:
NBC News, “Olympic skier Bode Miller loses round in battle over custody of baby son” Victoria Cavaliere, Nov. 25, 2013