Most parents will put the needs of their children before anything else. A person who is narcissistic isn’t going to be able to do this. Instead, they will continue to focus on their own needs and how their actions make them appear to others. While this can make many situations difficult, it can make coming to an agreement about child custody impossible.
Many child custody cases are handled through collaborative methods, so the parents work to come to an agreement about what needs to happen. When one parent is a narcissist, there’s very little chance of them being willing to compromise. This means that the case will have to go through the court in order to be resolved.
When you’re in a custody fight with a narcissist, you have to do what you can to protect your mental health and reduce the chance of giving them power. Putting up an emotional barrier between you and your ex is often beneficial. One way you can do this is to have all communication go through your attorney. This takes away the opportunity for your ex to see how their antics are impacting you.
You’re going to have to be ready to fight a long battle. Your ex will likely draw the custody case out as long as they can. They assume that taking up as much of your time as possible and inflating the legal costs of the case will have a negative impact on you. Being able to prepare for this might help you keep your stress level at a minimum throughout the case.
Working closely with your attorney can also help. You must ensure that you know your rights and options. Your attorney can help you to ensure that you’re being properly represented during this battle.