4 Tips For Dealing With A Child Custody Battle
by Joyce Diaz
Getting divorced is a difficult time for the whole family. The dissolution of a marriage can be exhausting and emotionally trying, and adding a custody battle on top of that can be overwhelming. If you're figuring out child custody during the process of your divorce, don't worry. You can get through this. Here are four tips to keep in mind when dealing with child custody:
1. Keep your children's interests in mind.
Ultimately, your children's best interests are what matter most during a custody battle. First and foremost, the judge will want to ensure that your kids are getting proper care, love, and support from both parents. Although you may be angry at your ex-spouse, you should never use your children to get back at them. If your kids are old enough to understand what's going on, it's a good idea to ask them what they would like. According to Psychology Today, some experts believe it's imperative to children's well-being that their desires are taken into account when deciding upon custody arrangements.
2. Be civil to your ex-spouse.
It's natural that divorce can lead to hard feelings on both sides. However, if you absolutely can't interact with your ex without getting nasty, then communicate through your lawyer. Under no circumstance should you antagonize your ex in any way, since this can reflect poorly on you in court.
3. Be ready to compromise.
Even if you would like full custody of your children, that's unlikely to be possible unless your ex is considered unfit or gives up custody rights voluntarily. Discuss your desires with your divorce lawyer, but maintain realistic expectations. Being willing to compromise can lead to better outcomes for everyone involved, including your children. The legal office that oversees your divorce lawyer services can give you more details on the compromises you might have to make.
4. Be prepared for your family court hearing.
During a custody hearing, a judge will review your case and decide how custody should be awarded. You and your ex will both be asked questions, and your answers will be taken into consideration when awarding custody. While it's important that you're truthful in court, you should still be prepared. Ask your divorce lawyer to help you figure out which questions you will have to answer. You may be asked about your salary, living situation, and whether or not you are currently dating.
Fighting for custody of your children is never easy. However, with the help of a skilled divorce lawyer, you can be well-represented while you deal with this difficult time. These are just a few tips to help you navigate divorce and family court.
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About Me
Hello. My name is Stephanie Laurel. I have recently been through a divorce, and although I don’t wish it on anyone, I do wish that everyone could come out of the proceedings feeling they have been taken care of. My husband and I had been married twenty-eight years. We have four children, two of which are still under eighteen years of age. We owned the home we lived in and had a vacation home in a different state. We are civilized people, we get along fairly well considering, but no matter how much we thought we could go through the divorce process without lawyers, it wasn't possible. We each hired a divorce attorney to represent us. Most of the negotiations went well, but when we hit a rough spot the attorneys took over. Thank goodness. I’m going to share more about the experience and hope it helps you.