Lying to get emergency custody of a child can have serious consequences. While lying may seem like the only way to ensure that your children are safe, but always it doesn’t work out that way. In this post, I will discuss five potential consequences of lying to gain emergency custody of a child.
5 Possible Consequences of Lying to Get Emergency Custody
When a parent lies to get emergency custody, there can be far-reaching and serious consequences. While it may seem like a harmless white lie at the time, the fallout from these fibs can have a lasting impact on both parents and children. Such as:
#1. You may win an emergency custody order by lying:
In some cases, lying to the court may actually work in your favour, and you may be granted emergency custody of your child. This is a weak point of our judicial system. There are many instances where we have seen this.
Cammie Ireton acknowledged how she lied to the court to gain custody of her son. She won it but now suffering for 22 years. She said:
“I did. It has been 22 years, and I struggle with it every day. I have a terrific relationship with my youngest son. My oldest still holds things inside.“
Yes, this happens all the time. Family court isn’t always aware of one parent’s convincing lies for custody while another parent is honest and forthcoming in the interests of their children.
Too often, the honest, caring parent loses out because the lying parent is more convincing. It’s not always easy to know when someone is lying. The clever parent accuses the other of false domestic violence or lying about job security. The lying parent will often have a good story, be well-spoken, and have an answer for everything.
The other parent is then left to try and prove their innocence while the lying parent gets what they want – custody of the children. It’s not always easy for the court to see through the lies.
#2. You win but lose the respect of the child:
What Irenton shared above – her 22 years son still now hates her for the lie she told to the court.
It is not uncommon for children to eventually discover that one of their parents lied to gain custody of them. This can lead to betrayal and a loss of respect for that parent. In some cases, it can also cause lasting damage to the parent-child relationship.
If you are considering lying to get custody of your child, you need to be prepared for the possibility that your child will eventually find out and may not forgive you.
#3. Your lie might be the reason for emotional damage to your child:
Lying to get emergency custody can also cause emotional damage to your child. They may feel betrayed, confused, and abandoned if they find out that you lied about their other parent.
Additionally, if your ex is forced to miss important events because of your lies, your child may blame themselves and feel guilty. These feelings can lead to low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression – all of which can hurt every aspect of their life.
Lying to get emergency custody can result in your child spending less time with their other parent – sometimes even losing out on important milestones like birthdays, holidays, and graduations.
While it may seem like protecting your child from an unsafe environment is more important than anything else. Children need both parents in their lives. Depriving them of that relationship can have a profound and lasting impact on their emotional development.
#4. You might lose custody altogether:
If your ex finds out that you lied to get emergency custody, they may be able to use that against you in court. In some cases, lying about domestic violence or abuse can result in the perpetrator losing custody of their children altogether. It will be very hard for you to cope with.
The court may award joint custody but limit your visitation rights – meaning you would only be able to see your child under supervision or not at all. No matter what the outcome is, lying about your ex will only make it harder for you to win custody in the future.
Additionally, if your ex can prove that you lied about their job security or income, the court may decide that you are no longer the primary custodial parent.
Lying to get emergency custody can backfire in a big way. Not only could you lose custody of your child, but you could also end up paying more in child support.
#5. You could go to jail:
Depending on the severity of your lies, you could go to jail for perjury or contempt of court. If you make false accusations against your ex in court documents or lie under oath during a hearing or trial, you could be charged with perjury – a felony in most states.
Additionally, if you violate a court order – such as by refusing to turn over your child for visitation – you could be held in contempt of court. Either way, lying to get emergency custody is not worth jail time.
Lying in custody court: how to combat a lying spouse in court – a video guideline for you:
FAQs on Lying to Get Emergency Custody
What happens if you lie under oath in family court?
Under oath means, to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. When you lie under oath, you are committing perjury. Perjury is a felony in the United States and is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Lying under oath in family court can have serious consequences for both parties involved in the case. For example, if one parent lies about their income to receive child support, the other parent may be ordered to pay more than they can afford.
This can lead to financial difficulties for both parents and may even result in the children’s custody loss. Lying under oath can also affect custody arrangements and visitation rights.
If one parent lies about their involvement in a crime, they may be denied custody or visitation rights altogether. In some cases, lying under oath can even lead to criminal charges being filed against the person who lied.
Lying under oath is taken very seriously by the courts and can have serious consequences for those involved in family court proceedings.
How to prove someone is lying in family court?
There are a few ways to prove someone is lying in family court. One way is to hire a private investigator to look into the other person’s background and activities.
This can be expensive, but it may be worth it if you have concrete evidence that the other person is lying. Another way to prove someone is lying in family court is to catch them in a lie.
This can be difficult to do, but if you can prove that the other person has lied about something in the past, it may be easier to prove that they are lying about something else.
Finally, having witnesses who can testify that the other person is lying may help prove your case.
Parents who lie at a family custody hearing – is it perjury?
Yes, it is. Parents who lie at a family custody hearing can be charged with perjury. This crime in the United States legal system occurs when someone knowingly makes a false statement while under oath.
Perjury is a serious offense and can lead to jail time, fines, or both. In some cases, it may also result in losing custody of one’s children.
Parental perjury can occur for various reasons, including attempting to gain an advantage in a custody battle. Whatever the reason, lying during a hearing is a felony and can have serious consequences.
How do you prove a parent is unfit?
There are a few ways to prove a parent unfit. One way is to show that the parent has a drug or alcohol abuse history. Another way to prove a parent unfit is to show that they have been convicted of a crime, such as a child abuse or domestic violence.
Finally, you can also prove a parent unfit if they have a history of mental illness or instability. If you can prove that the parent is unfit, you may be able to get full custody of the children.
Conclusion:
As you can see, there are many possible consequences of lying to get emergency custody. While it may seem like a harmless white lie at the time, the fallout from these fibs can have a lasting impact on both parents and children.
So before you say anything that isn’t 100% true in court documents or during hearings or trials, think carefully about whether or not it’s worth it.