Common-law couple battle for custodyA man who ended the relationship with his common-law wife in 2013 is now seeking custody of their two children.

He said he is not satisfied with the manner in which the children are being treated. He said, on many occasions, especially at nights, the mother leaves the children in the care of neighbours while she goes to parties or nightclubs.

"I cannot afford for my children to be living without parental control," he said.

Best care

"My parents took the very best care of me and I think my children should get the same care and attention. I used to live with my children's mother from 2002 to 2013 when we broke up. I felt I could no longer live with her because she wanted to go out to parties, dances and nightclubs at nights. She just was not setting any good example for the children.

"Many nights when she went out, I was left to take care of our two children. The neighbours began to tease me saying I could not control my woman and so, in 2013, I ended the relationship and went to live with my mother. I give her money every week for the children. I am not saying that she does not keep them clean and prepare their meals, but my problem is that she is hardly at home at nights with the children.

"Sometimes I stop by in the nights to see my children and most times they are left with the neighbours and their mother is not around. The neighbours tell me that she is still going out regularly at nights. I spoke to her last month about her behaviour and she told me that I had no control over her and she was free to enjoy her life."

Lifestyle

The concerned father said he does not like her lifestyle. He said he told her that she should give him custody of the children, but she said she was not going to do so. He said he was very worried about the children and did not want them to be at the mercy of neighbours at nights.

"I am seriously considering taking her to court to get custody of my children because I love my children very much and want them to have a very good life," he said.

You can apply for custody of the children, but you have to prove to the court that the children's mother is unfit to take care of them. The Children (Guardianship and Custody) Act states: "The court may, upon the application of the father or mother of a child, make such order as it may think fit regarding the custody of such child and the right of access thereto of either parent, having regard to the welfare of the child, and to the conduct of the parents, and to the wishes as well of the mother as of the father, and may alter, vary, or discharge such order on the application of either parent."