| Fighting over child custody is one of the most | | | | Second, find good legal help immediately. In a child |
| heart-wrenching battles any parent can go through. | | | | custody battle, every little piece of information and |
| Not only do these battles take immense amounts of | | | | every seemingly insignificant statement or action can |
| time, energy, and money, but they also often come | | | | become important. Make sure you have the legal |
| very soon after some sort of family or relational | | | | advice needed to make the right choices every step |
| trauma such as divorce, separation, or abuse. Child | | | | of the way. On a similar note, don't sign anything, |
| custody battles are agonizing to fight, but they are | | | | make any deals or agreements, or take any major |
| not battles you can afford to lose - the lives of you | | | | actions without first consulting your attorney. |
| and your children are at stake. | | | | Thirdly, be aware that the court system is imperfect, |
| Three Things to Consider | | | | and doubly so when dealing with a highly subjective |
| In order to win, you must prove to the court that | | | | matter like child custody. Appearances count for a lot. |
| you are the best guardian and caretaker of your | | | | The people you associate with, the jobs you take, |
| children. There are a few things you should keep in | | | | the area in which you live - all these things will |
| mind to accomplish this. | | | | influence the court's decision. Furthermore, court |
| First, no matter how bad the situation at home gets, | | | | personnel are often overworked and do not have |
| don't leave your children. All too often, a parent will | | | | the time or energy to delve deeply into complex |
| leave the house, seeking to defuse confrontations | | | | matters. It is your job - and that of your attorney - |
| with their spouse. While such an action appears | | | | to make sure that all relevant information comes to |
| perfectly reasonable from a relationship standpoint, in | | | | light. |
| the eyes of the court it looks a lot like abandonment. | | | | Be smart. Any parent may find themselves in a child |
| Keep in mind that status quo is very, very important | | | | custody battle at any given time. Don't let yourself |
| in child custody battles. Courts usually seek to avoid | | | | be caught off guard, but never forget the most |
| disrupting children's lives, and try to maintain the | | | | important thing in any child custody dispute - the |
| status quo, if at all possible. If you are trying to | | | | interests of your children. Regardless of your |
| change your children's living situation, you will need to | | | | emotions and your desires, your duty as a parent is |
| convince the judge that the way things currently | | | | to do whatever is best for your children. |
| stand is unacceptable - no easy task. | | | | |