If a parent is presently suffering from an addiction or isn’t too far removed from one, is sole custody for the other parent the only option?

If you can’t protect yourself from addiction, at least protect your children. You’ll want a divorce agreement that gives certain decision-making power to the sober parent and a contingency plan for supervised visitation just in case. A client of mine wanted to have joint custody of his two school-age daughters, but Mom worried about his recent pornography and sex addiction. Dad got his joint custody wish, but mom got conditions, such as where Dad would lock up his adult material and what physical contact he’d have with the girls.