Is the Custody Battle Between
Britney Spears and Kevin Federline
About their Children…

Or Is It Really About Money?

From the desk of: Reena Sommer, Ph.D.
Date:

Once again Britney Spears is the focus of media attention as news broke of her petition to divorce her husband, Kevin Federline. Britney Spears is neither a stranger to controversy nor divorce. However it appears that this time, attention will be drawn toward the couple's two infant children who are now at the center of a brewing custody battle. It seems that shortly after Britney Spears filed for sole custody of the children, her husband, Kevin Federline contested her custody petition by likewise filing for sole custody of the boys himself.

The Big Questions Are:

What is Really At Stake
in the Couple's Custody Dispute?

Is it about their children or

Are they being used as pawns to achieve another cause?

Perhaps to gain a larger divorce settlement, or
maybe to settle a score?

It is very common in divorce cases for there to be underlying issues in custody battles. Apart from most parents having a genuine vested interest in remaining a part of their children's lives and a commitment to their well-being, the reality is that money and retaliation are often factors that come into play in custody disputes. Because children are so highly valued by parents (and society in general), too often they become a bartering chip or a pawn in negotiating divorce settlements. The bottom line is that there may be secondary gains (i.e., ulterior motives) in custody battles.

Since I do not have first hand knowledge of the facts of Britney Spears and Kevin Ferderline's custody case, I am not in a position to offer an opinion on the circumstances of their custody dispute. However, the media’s initial reporting does raise some interesting questions about the underpinnings of this couple’s custody dispute. These in turn provide some food for thought.

Of the issues raised, the following two top the list:

	What better way to get around a prenuptial agreement than to initiate a custody battle?
	What better way to get back at a spouse for not living up to one’s expectations (right or wrong) than to deny that spouse their parental rights?

Without a doubt, the answers to these questions will be played out in divorce court and the media. But apart from how unfortunate this is for their children, Britney Spears and Ken Federline’s case and others like it highlights one important fact – agreements – no matter how “iron clad” - are only as good as those who abide by them! The fact is that agreements as well as divorce laws provide a framework for how things should be done and how people should conduct themselves. As we have so far learned Britney Spears and Kevin Federline’s custody dispute, is agreements seem wonderful in theory, but they are not always so wonderful in practice.