Many parents know that smoking cigarettes damages their health. What they might not realize is that, in family court cases, the habit also can hurt their chances for custody of their kids. What's in the Child's Best Interest? Regardless of the state you live in or whether you are fighting for full or joint custody, the judge who decides your case will be asking, "What outcome will protect the safety and well-being of your child and what is in the child's best interest?" This involves many factors—including anything that might affect a child's health. In a rising number of custody cases, courts are also factoring in whether parents, or other family members smoke in the home or car when childr... [Read more]