A Lee County judge signed an order Thursday demanding the return of Country singer Mindy McCready’s 5-year-old son, Zander, to his maternal grandmother’s care in Florida. McCready reportedly took the boy to her home in Tennessee after visiting him late last month at her father’s Florida home. McCready, who is reportedly seven months pregnant with twins, said she was currently incapable of travel and allegedly refused to return her son to Florida.
McCready’s mother was named Zander’s guardian in 2007. Since then, the two have engaged in a long battle over his custody. The 36-year-old singer recently accused her mother of abusing Zander and stated she took the child in an effort to protect him. Her mother denies the allegations. In August, McCready also filed a libel lawsuit against her mother.
Early Saturday morning, Arkansas authorities reportedly took Zander into custody at a previously unoccupied summer home in Heber Springs. McCready allegedly did not have permission to be on the property and was found hiding in a bedroom closet with her son. The Arkansas Division of Children and Family Services is currently making arrangements to return the child to his grandmother in Florida. McCready has allegedly told her half-brother via text message their mother would never see her again.
McCready has reportedly led a complicated life since finding fame. She allegedly suffers from severe depression, has publicly battled a drug addiction, and she spent time in the hospital three years ago for an alleged suicide attempt. It is unclear whether McCready will now face criminal charges for violating the custody arrangement and the judge’s order.
Changes to child custody arrangements must be approved by the courts. In Florida, a parent must show substantially changed circumstances since the original arrangement was created before a court will modify a child custody arrangement. Additionally, the child’s best interests must justify any change. A parent’s fitness to raise the child, the child’s age, the parent primarily responsible for the child’s upbringing, and the child’s preference are all factors a court will look at when determining the best interests of a child. The court will also look at other factors such as the moral fitness of the parents, any evidence of sexual violence, child abuse, child neglect or child abandonment, and various other statutory factors.
Few subjects are more emotional than who will maintain custody of and care for your children. If you are seeking to modify your child custody arrangement, our experienced family law attorneys can help. Our Miami child custody attorney focuses exclusively on family law and can help you evaluate what is in the best interests of your child and understand your options.
Call Sandy T. Fox, a Broward County family law attorney, today at (800) 596-0579.
More Blog Posts:
Groom Arrested After Allegedly Defrauding St. Augustine Wedding Merchants, Fort Lauderdale Divorce Lawyer Blog, November 2, 2011
Broward Judges Increasingly Order Divorced Parents to Utilize Scheduling Websites, Fort Lauderdale Divorce Lawyer Blog, November 9, 2011
Additional Resources:
McCready’s ex says she’s pushing luck over son, by Tamara Lush, Miami Herald
Mindy McCready Custody Battle: Singer’s 5-Year-Old Son Taken By Authorities, by Tamara Lush, Huffington Post