During divorce cases, the court has to decide on the custody of a child or children if the parents fail to agree on the matter. In the past, custody of minors was usually awarded to the mother with the father being responsible for paying child support. Today however the dynamics of law have greatly changed, so much so that child custody can be awarded to any parent. There is no guarantee that you will win your child’s custody, but with the following tips you can increase your chances of winning.
Familiarize Yourself With The Law
Every state has its own laws regarding child custody. As such, you must familiarize yourself with these laws regardless of where you reside. Knowing the law gives you a better fighting chance to win over your children’s custody. You will be able to know how to appropriately approach your case as well as gather all of the necessary information you are required to submit to your lawyer.
Get An Excellent Lawyer
In any given court case, the chances of winning are greatly increased if the hired lawyer is good at his or her job. Therefore, make sure that you hire an excellent lawyer preferably one who specializes in family law. A competent lawyer will effectively represent your case, prepare you on how to answer questions from the opposing council, help you to properly fill in all the necessary documentations, and give you good advice as the case progresses. A good lawyer will also help you take important steps or make changes that will improve your chances of winning.
Be The First To Take Action
Being the one to file the child custody case puts you in a better position than you would be if you are the one being sued. The court will take it as a sign that you really want to be in your child’s life and are willing to be a responsible parent.
Be Mindful Of Your Behavior
It is common knowledge that your past behavior will play a large part in determining whether you win your child’s custody or not. However, what most people do not know is that your current behavior also counts. Avoid getting into fights with your spouse or saying negative things inside the courtroom or during outside meetings with your spouse’s attorney. Keep in mind that any emotional outbursts or negative behavior from your part can be used against you. Therefore, always keep calm and maintain composure even if your spouse directs angry remarks or bitter allegations towards you.
Prove Your Stability
In a child custody case, the court aims at ensuring that the verdict is in the best interest of the child. This means you should prove that you are the ideal parent to take charge of your minors. You should provide proof that you are in great mental and physical health as well as present documents proving your financial stability. In addition, ensure that you have a permanent residence in a neighborhood that is suitable for raising children.
Child custody cases are based purely on facts. If you genuinely feel you are the ideal parent, apply the tips explained above and you will most likely emerge as the winner.
Catrina Henderson is a full-time writer and blogger who writes articles on a variety of topics. After recently undergoing a divorce, Catrina decided to write this article. If you are in need of a good family lawyer to help with your child custody case Catrina highly recommends the DJP Solicitors.