Avoid These Mistakes to Win a Child Custody Case
Winning child custody is hard when you don’t know what to do and what to avoid. The odds of making mistakes are high, which counters your efforts to win the child custody case. Read on to discover some mistakes you must avoid to ensure that doesn’t happen.
Ignoring the Importance of a Family Lawyer
You might think you can represent yourself in a child custody case and win, but child custody cases are complicated, and the law is not always clear. Unless you are a lawyer, you will not know how to navigate the legal system.
A family lawyer will know how to navigate the legal system. The attorney has been through the system before and understands the requirements better than you do. Therefore, you can trust a lawyer to advise and guide you so you won’t make costly errors.
Moreover, you cannot win a child custody case without substantial proof to show why you are a suitable custodial parent. Your attorney will know what evidence to present in court and how to question witnesses effectively.
Also, based on the nature of your case, a family lawyer will negotiate with the other party’s lawyer. This negotiation is essential in child custody cases to avoid further disagreements that will hurt your relationship with the other parent. The family lawyer will also help you understand the child custody agreement before you sign it.
Ignoring Your Duties
You cannot win a child custody case if you are not ready to commit. And commitment doesn’t only apply to the current custodial parent. You must fulfill your parental roles to show the court that you have the child’s best interests. You should play a part in the child’s education, social life, and extracurricular activities.
The court will also want to see that you have a good relationship with your child. The judge will look at how you communicate with your child and whether the kids are comfortable around you. The court wants to see that you can meet your child’s needs physically and emotionally.
The best way to prove your commitment is to journal your visitations, communication, and any transactions towards your children. You will need the journals as evidence in court.
Ignoring the Court’s Orders
The court may order you to pay child support, visit your kids on the weekends, or attend parenting classes. And if you want to win a custody case, you must strive to meet these orders. Otherwise, the court will assume that you don’t have the children’s best interests at heart and therefore don’t deserve custody. Moreover, failure to observe the court order may result in jail time.
Talk to your lawyer if you have difficulty following the court’s orders, perhaps due to schedule or other personal issues. The attorney may be able to help you get a modification of the order.
Belittling the Other Parent
You may think that if you bad-mouth the other parent to your children, the court will see them as a bad influence on the kids. However, this behavior will reflect poorly on you, and the court will likely award custody to the other parent.
The court wants to see that you can co-parent peacefully with the other parent. Therefore, avoid talking badly about the other parent in front of your children; if you must vent, look for a therapist. A child custody case is a complex process, but you can do some things to improve your chances of winning. Follow the tips above, and you’ll be closer to getting the custody arrangement you want.
Contact us at Law Offices of Lynda Latta, LLC to discuss how we can help you navigate the child custody law. We have the skills and experience to help you win.
