Tips to Being Prepared for a Custody Battle

Finding yourself in a custody battle can be a daunting and frightening experience. Most never dream they will end up in a legal dispute for custody of their children with a person they once considered a partner. But life happens, things change and being prepared to do battle in the courtroom is important.

Keep a journal

Being organized and “having your ducks in a row,” so to speak, are important things to remember when preparing for any legal proceedings. Custody battles are no exception. Keeping a journal will enable you to make sure you get all your thoughts, details, events and information in one location for your attorneys to work with. It’s important to make sure your attorneys have all the information necessary to plead your case and having it all written down is a great step in the right direction.

Do everything in writing

Finding yourself in a “he said/she said” battle in a courtroom is the last thing you need when fighting for custody of your children. When it comes to any communication with the other party involved, do everything in writing. Be sure to keep your communication positive and productive, focused solely on your children. It is important for judges to see your willingness to co-parent with your former partner, if need be. Your emails and text messages must be appropriate, with no curse words, insults or other damaging behavior. Do not have verbal conversations when at all possible, the proof is in the writing.

Gather evidence

It is important to identify for your attorneys any individuals who would be willing to testify on your behalf. Having an army of friends, coworkers, family and acquaintances who will go to bat for you in court and can truthfully attest to your parenting ability is vital to a successful outcome. Any documentation you have that can validate your involvement in your child’s life is important to gather for your attorneys as well.

Keep your kids out of it

While the point of custody battles is for guardianship of your children, they should be kept out of the legal proceedings as much as possible. It’s so important to make sure you involve your children as little as can be from the litigation process. Mistakes to avoid are things like using your child as a “middleman” or a messenger to the other parent or grilling your children for any “scoop” to help your case when they return from time with your former partner. Doing your part to insulate your children is so crucial to their general well being during these issues.

Custody battles are hard on everyone involved. Making sure you keep a level head, keeping your business off social media and watching what you say or do will help you in your legal proceedings