Parenting FAQ - I have been divorced from my former husband for over seven years and has a history of violence?

Date: February 23, 2011

Q. I have been divorced from my former husband for over seven years and although I am in employment he has been on the dole throughout and has a history of violence. Recently he approached me and suggested that as he was now in a stable relationship he would like to have contact with our son. What should I do?

A. In all cases involving children it always gets back to what is in the best interests of the child. Should your ex-husband have a history of violence involving both yourself and the child, custody would not be an issue and supervised contact is probably what would be allowed. This always gets back to working out a program which will be acceptable to both parties provided that the child will not suffer as a result.