If you play for a professional sports team in Cincinnati, you likely expect to travel to multiple cities across the country several times a year. While this is all part of the job, you might be wondering if the family court will scrutinize your career when determining custody arrangements
Which state decides your child custody case?
Under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA), authority generally lies with the child’s “home state”, where they have lived for the last six months. Even if you play for a Cincinnati team, if your child resides across the river in Kentucky or Indiana, that state’s laws will likely govern your case, not Ohio’s.
Can frequent travel affect custody decisions?
If Ohio is your child’s home state, courts must prioritize the child’s best interests. While the law generally favors frequent contact with both parents, your child’s stability and welfare will always come first.
Fortunately, courts understand that nontraditional work schedules exist in many professions. Many athlete parents find success with arrangements that maximize parenting time during the off-season. Others coordinate virtual visits through video calls during away games to ensure they maintain that crucial consistent contact.
Will a high income have an influence?
High-earning professional athletes face special factors in child support cases such as:
- The shorter career span of athletes compared to other professions
- Fluctuations in income from injuries, trades or contract changes
- The lifestyle children experienced during the marriage
- Potential earnings after retiring from professional sports
It is important to note that income does not decide custody. Ohio law generally places parents on equal footing regardless of net worth. While the court considers your ability to provide for the child’s needs, having a higher salary does not automatically entitle you to more parenting time.
What does this mean for you?
Your career does not fit a standard mold, and your custody plan does not need to either. Rather than viewing your profession as a challenge, successful co-parenting in this situation often benefits from careful, proactive planning.
By using your resources to create a flexible approach that accounts for travel and emphasizes staying connected, you can work toward maintaining a strong relationship with your child, no matter where the season takes you.