3 Tips To Strengthen Your Custody Case
If you have children, figuring out custody may be one of the most challenging aspects of getting a divorce. Most parties' hope for a custody agreement that is as easy as possible on everyone involved, both parents on children. However, the court's ultimate goal will be to award custody in accordance with the child's best interests. If you are preparing for a custody battle at the Lake of the Ozarks, here are a few tips that may be able to help strengthen you case.
How Custody Is Awarded
Traditionally, most people believed that mothers are better able to provide for their children's needs than fathers. However, as women become increasingly prominent players in the workforce and men become more actively involved with household and child-rearing responsibilities, that balance has shifted. Increasing emphasis is placed on the fact that fathers are just as capable of caring for the children as mothers. The parents genders are not the primary focus of today's custody battles; instead, the court strongly considers whom will be able to best provide for the child physically, mentally, and emotionally and promote the child's best interest.
Strengthening Your Custody Case
Our family attorneys at the Lake of the Ozarks are here to help you set your custody case up for success. Here are a few tips that can help you better prepare for your custody battle.
1. Stay Actively Involved In Your Children's Lives
What are your children's interests? Whether they play a sport or participate in their school's plays, it is important that you demonstrate that you are actively involved in your children's interests. Attend their events and spend as much time with them as you can. Saying that you are supportive of your children's interests probably won't do you much good if you aren't able to back up your statement with consistent attendance at your children's events.
2. Document Everything
If you believe a custody battle may be in your future, we recommend you keep a journal detailing all of your involvement in your children's lives. Write down how much time you spent with them each day and what your activities included. We also recommend taking photographs of your activities, as photographic evidence tends to hold up better in court. If your spouse was absent from key events, make a note of this as well. This information will serve as valuable evidence when the time comes.
3. Don't Use Your Children As Leverage
Even if you are currently your children's primary caregiver, you should never use your little ones as leverage in an argument with your spouse. Some parents make the mistake of threatening to withhold the children if their spouse refuses to behave in a certain manner or perform a certain task, but this threat often ends up hurting their case in the long run. Children are living, breathing, dynamic individuals all their own, and attempting to use them as leverage can be seen as insensitive and uncaring - not characteristics the courts look favorably upon when awarding custody.
Contact Our Family Attorneys For The Representation You Need
If you are facing a divorce at the Lake of the Ozarks and are anticipating a custody battle, we strongly encourage you to contact one of our divorce lawyers in Camdenton MO as soon as you can. We can help you evaluate your unique situation to determine what strategies will best position your case for success. To learn more about our family law services at the Lake of the Ozarks, visit our website.
The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely on advertising. When you need a knowledgeable attorney, we invite you to contact us to set up a consultation. Evening and weekend appointments are available. We have access to interpreters.
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How Custody Is Awarded
Traditionally, most people believed that mothers are better able to provide for their children's needs than fathers. However, as women become increasingly prominent players in the workforce and men become more actively involved with household and child-rearing responsibilities, that balance has shifted. Increasing emphasis is placed on the fact that fathers are just as capable of caring for the children as mothers. The parents genders are not the primary focus of today's custody battles; instead, the court strongly considers whom will be able to best provide for the child physically, mentally, and emotionally and promote the child's best interest.
Strengthening Your Custody Case
Our family attorneys at the Lake of the Ozarks are here to help you set your custody case up for success. Here are a few tips that can help you better prepare for your custody battle.
1. Stay Actively Involved In Your Children's Lives
What are your children's interests? Whether they play a sport or participate in their school's plays, it is important that you demonstrate that you are actively involved in your children's interests. Attend their events and spend as much time with them as you can. Saying that you are supportive of your children's interests probably won't do you much good if you aren't able to back up your statement with consistent attendance at your children's events.
If you believe a custody battle may be in your future, we recommend you keep a journal detailing all of your involvement in your children's lives. Write down how much time you spent with them each day and what your activities included. We also recommend taking photographs of your activities, as photographic evidence tends to hold up better in court. If your spouse was absent from key events, make a note of this as well. This information will serve as valuable evidence when the time comes.
3. Don't Use Your Children As Leverage
Even if you are currently your children's primary caregiver, you should never use your little ones as leverage in an argument with your spouse. Some parents make the mistake of threatening to withhold the children if their spouse refuses to behave in a certain manner or perform a certain task, but this threat often ends up hurting their case in the long run. Children are living, breathing, dynamic individuals all their own, and attempting to use them as leverage can be seen as insensitive and uncaring - not characteristics the courts look favorably upon when awarding custody.
Contact Our Family Attorneys For The Representation You Need
If you are facing a divorce at the Lake of the Ozarks and are anticipating a custody battle, we strongly encourage you to contact one of our divorce lawyers in Camdenton MO as soon as you can. We can help you evaluate your unique situation to determine what strategies will best position your case for success. To learn more about our family law services at the Lake of the Ozarks, visit our website.
Law Offices of Phillips, McElyea, Carpenter, & Welch, P.C.
The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely on advertising. When you need a knowledgeable attorney, we invite you to contact us to set up a consultation. Evening and weekend appointments are available. We have access to interpreters.
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85 Court Circle N.W., P.O. Box 559
Camdenton, MO 65020 GET A MAP
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