Custody battles aren’t something that anyone looks forward to, but it is often part of the divorce process for families with children. Child custody becomes an issue even in the most civil of divorces and preparing for the court proceedings can be incredibly overwhelming. However, there are some steps you can take to be better prepared and help the process move along as smoothly as possible.
Custody Evaluation Help
A good place to start is seeking out custody evaluation help. It is the courts duty to decide if the parents are fit to have their children and if custody should be split or given to one parent. This means that they have to perform thorough evaluations to get a strong idea of the life the child would have with each parent.
Reaching out to a child custody attorney can help you in this process. They can tell you what will be evaluated and what steps you may need to take to have a successful evaluation. It’s possible that you won’t need to make any changes if everything is already on track, but it helps to know what you’re facing and be prepared.
Keep Evidence
If you are in a position where you are battling with an unfit parent for full custody, you are going to want to document as much evidence as possible. Anything from text messages to missed visitations can help your case. Any form of neglect, abuse, or other unfit behavior from the other party should be documented in case it is needed in court. Your lawyer can help you to determine what could be useful to your case and what isn’t.
Worry More About Yourself
Another helpful tip is to worry more about yourself than the other parent. Pay attention to how well you are caring for your child and how you are handling the situation at hand. Being civil, calm, and collected will go a long way in front of a judge. They want to see that you are mature and capable of making rational decisions based on the good of your child, not on animosity for the other parent.
Take all of the help you can get, keep your head down, gather evidence, and be the best parent you can be. If you do these things then you will most likely look amazing in court and it should be easier for you to achieve results that are good for you and your child.