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Custody and Visitation: What Are the Signs of Child Neglect?

Although child abuse often has very clear signs, the signs of child neglect in Arizona are much less clear. Because it leaves few physical signs and may slowly worsen over a period of time, child neglect can be difficult to detect. If you share parenting time/visitation, and you're concerned that your child might be suffering neglect by an ex-spouse or someone in his or her home, these are the kinds of signs you might be looking for in your child:

• Depression and withdrawal
• Poor performance at school
• Frequent absences from school
• Poor dental hygiene, serious tooth decay, and chronic bad breath
• Very thin or small for his or her age
• Poor general health or sickliness
• Always hungry or stealing/hoarding food

If you believe your child is being abused or neglected, it is important to contact the proper authorities immediately and make sure your child is safe. If you need help getting emergency child custody orders in place, contact an experienced Scottsdale family law attorney at 1-888-929-5292 today. We can help you gather evidence and explain the steps you need to take. If you'd like more information about who we are and what we do, request a copy of our book, Arizona Family Law - How to Handle Tough Issues in Tough Times.