Divorce is never easy on a child. It is a confusing time and causes a lot of stress. What complicates things, even more, is a lengthy court battle over custody. It’s important for the child’s best interests to be kept in mind so that they can end up getting back to normal with a loving parent looking after them.
It’s very important to make sure that you can win your custody battle to start the process of caring for your child and creating a better life. The better your chances at winning mean better the chances of it being over quickly as well. The idea is that there are things that you can be doing to make sure that you do win your case, or at least tilt the odds to your favor.
In this article, we will go over what you can be doing to improve your chances of winning custody of your child after a divorce.
Keep detailed records
It’s essential that you are able to give the judge a lot of information. When you have a lot of documentation, it helps them be able to see the big picture. You may feel like you are giving them things that are not important, but you never know what the piece of information is that will tip the balance and help your case.
This means that you should be documenting everything and giving that to your lawyer. Family attorneys like the Kaufman & McPherson Law Firm always recommend that you make notes of every phone call made to your ex-partner along with the theme of the conversation.
In addition to that, have records of every time you’ve been the one to bring your child to the doctor so it shows that you have been the caregiver. Any tickets for the movies or other events will show how much you do together. This paints a picture that the judge will be able to use to determine what life will be like for your child if they were to be in your custody.
If there was ever a time when your partner wasn’t acting in the best interest of the child or showed any kind of neglect or abuse then this also needs to be documented.
Have your financial ducks in a row
One of the biggest factors that a judge needs to see to want to give you custody is that you can manage to take care of the child’s needs financially. To give the judge an idea of if you are capable you will need to be able to show that you can handle the financial burden.
First and foremost, even before you have to get yourself organized, you will need to be able to pay for the lawyers, court costs, missed time from work, and all the other expenses related to the case. These expenses can add up so make sure that you can afford them and still have enough means to take care of a child on top of them.
Then, make sure to get yourself organized and put the paperwork together in an easy-to-understand way so your financial health is clear for all to see. This means that you should have tax returns, pay stubs, and any other income on paper so you can prove that you are going to be able to offer stability to yourself and the child.
Don’t get emotional at the hearing
It is completely understandable that you are going to be running on high emotions. A judge won’t be expecting a robot before them. However, they do expect you to be able to present yourself reasonably and not let any anger or frustration with your ex or the system take over.
Maintain your composure even if the opposing lawyer wants to push your buttons. If you are able to stay calm and articulate your position then the judge will look favorably on this.
Show your network
It’s been said that it takes a village to raise a child so if you can show that you have a solid network of family and friends then this will go a long way in the eyes of the judge. It is difficult to be a single parent so it’s important to show that you may be single but not doing it alone.
Get testimony from your parents, siblings, and close friends that they have been involved in your child’s life and will continue to do so when you have custody.
