Game of Thrones is one of television’s most popular shows. Each week, millions tune to HBO on Sunday nights to escape reality and enter a world of fantasy filled with kings, queens, dragons and wizards. But even one the show’s biggest stars cannot escape real life drama. Actress Lena Heady, who portrays Cersei Lannister, is currently involved in a high-profile child custody dispute. A court has ordered Heady to return her six-year-old son Wylie to the United States due to a violation of a 2013 custody agreement.
Irish musician Peter Loughran, the boy’s father, successfully petitioned a California court to have his son brought back to live with him in Los Angeles. The 42-year-old Heady chose to move her son from Los Angeles to England due to her disdain for the American educational system. According to Loughran, Heady had agreed to return Wylie back to Los Angeles after filming Game of Thrones in Great Britain. It was ruled she violated the custody agreement by failing to return her son before the September 5 deadline. To make matters even more complicated, Heady enrolled her son in a Yorkshire school blaming the “subpar school system” in the United States. She had enrolled the child without Loughran’s permission. The custody agreement had called for the boy to visit his father 10 days per month. Heady and Loughran were married 2007 to 2011. She also has a daughter from a subsequent relationship.
Child custody and visitation are often one of the most complicated and sensitive issues involving family law. Fort Lauderdale is filled with countless similar cases. Because it is an international city, many custody disputes go beyond international borders. However, it is important for both parents to honor the agreement established by the parties and ratified by the court. When it comes to child custody, the court focuses on what is in the child’s best interest. Custody cases in Florida are divided into two categories–parental responsibility and residential custody. Florida no longer uses the word “custody” or “visitation” when discussing the time sharing arrangement of the child(ren). What used to be referred to “visitation” is now called “time sharing”. The word custody has been stricken from the statutes. We now have “parenting plans” in which the parties designate the time in which the mother and father will each have time sharing. If the parties cannot agree on a time sharing agreement, the court will one for them. In most Florida cases, the ideal situation is to have both parents involved in the child’s upbringing. However, this is not always possible. Logistics, along with a parent’s income, health and competency to provide care often come into play.
Each state has different statutes and laws for child custody. Regardless of where a family resides, it is vital to have an experienced and knowledgeable child custody lawyer on your side to help place you in the best position to succeed. A family law attorney can help organize paperwork, provide skillful negotiation and formulate the most effective strategy to protect your interests and your child’s welfare.
For more than 25 years, Fort Lauderdale child custody lawyer Gustavo Frances has successfully represented countless clients in family law cases. He understands the frustration and stress of people who are going through a divorce, paternity matter that have child custody challenges. Many times children are caught in the middle of these difficult situations. To learn more about how an experienced family law attorney can help, contact The Law Office of Gustavo E. Frances, P.A. and schedule a consultation today.
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