It is usually in the best interest of any child to grow under the care of both parents. However, that is not always possible. Sometimes, parents and guardians experience personal differences that result in either divorce or other forms of separation. Where they are not willing to work together, a child custody battle begins, forcing one or both guardians to go to court.
1. Hire a lawyer
As with any court cases, it is advisable to get a lawyer. There are numerous family law attorneys in Provo, Utah that you may hire to handle your child custody case. Visiting websites, such as rexbbushman.com, will take you to those reputable attorneys. Usually, the lawyers have handled numerous cases in the past and, therefore, understand the stakes. They are also able to identify possible reasons that may either boost or injure your chances of winning the child custody case. With that in mind, they are able to structure their arguments in the way that best suits your situation.
Prove your willingness to work with your former partner
Every parent has a right to be involved in the lives of their kids. That right must always be upheld, unless it can be proved in court that the parent poses a threat to the safety and well-being of their children. In light of that, battling parents must prove to the court that they are willing to work together for the well-being of their child. Unless your former partner has a recurring drug addiction or is involved in crime, he or she has a right to share custody over your child. That means that you should not readily prevent interactions between the two.
2. Be truthful
Many child custody battles are often between the parents. The cases are usually characterized by an ongoing feud between the separated partners. As such, many parents are usually willing to provide false statements against their former partners. The aim is usually to portray their former partners in a bad light to injure their chances of winning the child custody battle. Some people have been successful doing that, but a majority of them end up ruining their own chances of winning the case. That may explain why lawyers emphasize the need for their clients to be truthful through the entire case period.
3. Perform your parental duties
The most effective way of winning child custody is by fulfilling your parental duties. There is no way you will win the case if it is made known to the court that you have been neglecting your parental duties. It will even be worse if the other partner can prove that he or she has been consistently providing care to your child. As such, you have a personal responsibility to ensure the well-being of your child or children depending on the circumstances. That goes a long way in proving that you are willing and capable to take care of your child in the event that you win the case.
Child custody battles often carry on for up to a few months or years. The ease with which they are settled will depend on the parents’ willingness to work together. Otherwise, the court proceedings may be prolonged as the court tries to determine the best case scenario for the child.