While many child custody arrangements between parents run smoothly, others are bound to be contentious. And sometimes, because of circumstances that are beyond one parent's control--such as a judge's baffling rulings--situations that seem almost too strange to be true become real possibilities. This would seemingly apply to a woman in Charlotte, North Carolina, who may be punished for doing what she thinks is in the best interests of her children.

The case involves a divorced couple and their two children, ages 7 and 4. The parents were divorced in 2009, and the father was granted visitation rights. However, the father had a history of drug abuse, according to court records. He even lost his job with the city of Charlotte after failing a drug screening.

Then late last year, the father's problems increased. He was indicted on federal drug trafficking charges by a grand jury. As a result, the mother decided not to allow the children to see their father. When she went to court to seek emergency custody, however, the judge told her there was no inherent danger to the children and refused to alter the custody agreement.

Now, because the woman has continued not to allow the father's visitation time, she could be held in contempt and jailed. Clearly, this is an extreme case, but disputes over child custody are not uncommon. People who are working on a custody agreement or are on the verge of one often find it beneficial to consult with a family law attorney with valuable experience in child custody cases.

Source: WCNC.com, "Mother could go to jail in custody battle with troubled dad," Glenn Counts, Feb. 7, 2012