Former New Jersey Governor is in a Heated Custody Battle

The Star-Ledger reported yesterday that former New Jersey Governor, James E. McGreevey, who is in the midst of a divorce, has included among his request for relief the sole custody of the parties’ five year old daughter, Jacqueline. http://www.nj.com/starledger/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-11/11737647504550.xml&coll=1

The amended complaint seeks child support and provides Dina Matos McGreevey, the mother and soon-to-be ex-spouse, with visitation rights.

Presently, Governor McGreevey lives with his partner, Mark O’Donnell.

The specific allegations surrounding Governor McGreevey’s request for sole custody are not reported.

This case raises important questions that run parallel with heterosexual relationships:

Is a child’s best interests to live in a household with a parent and step-parent as opposed to a single parent household? Is it possible that just because one parent ends up in a relationship, the child’s environment is now seen as more “stable”?