Monday, February 2, 2015

How To Win Child Custody For Fathers

By Ines Flores


There is a general perception that child will always be left to the mother in case of a divorce. This is however not true, in fact, the father has equal legal rights, just as the mother when it comes to the child's custody. However, this can be so difficult, particularly in case the mother is also filing for the same, whether it is full or just a joint custody. For those who are wondering how to win child custody for fathers, here are some tips.

It is important that the father continues paying the support expenses towards the child's upkeep. If he was not paying for the support, then it is important to begin as soon as possible as it can work for him during the trail. There are some situations where the dad may make the payment through an informal arrangement with mother; in this case, he must be sure to properly keep the related records such as the check receipts and the correspondence letters with the mother. However, a modification could be requested in case the father is struggling with the payment.

The second part is to win the child's own affection. Establishing a relationship with the kid ensures that he/she approves you and prefers you for custody. There are many ways to achieve this, but the most obvious one includes maintaining a regular communication. The dad should be present in the important days for the kid such as the baptism, birthdays, sport days, and other eventful days. In addition to this, the dad should be able to take the kid out once in a while and even play with him/her.

There is a need for maintaining a proper visitation schedule as this may also be needed in the court. There should be a parenting plan available. Such plans help the dad not to skip or forget the important days or their visiting day. The dad should also introduce himself to the school administration.

Even with all this, a day in court could make or break the deal. As such, the father must also prepare adequately before the hearing is done. This includes wearing a black suit with official shoes. During the hearing process, there must be no outbursts or anger at any stage. The dad must be very composed and only speak when invited.

When preparing for the hearing, there are a number of things that must be considered. The first of these is the courtroom etiquette. This includes refraining from any sign of anger or outbursts of any sought. It is also advisable that the father dresses officially to the courtroom. This consists of a dark suit and official shoes.

The best interest of the child is what is used to make the final determination. As such, father must be able to explain the best interest, and more importantly, explain why leaving the kid with his/her mother is not in his/her best interest.

In order to be able to fully prepare, father must look out for any obstacles that could work against him. The major one is the paternity proof that may be required in court, particularly if the couple had never married before. Other things like the child's wishes and the mother's demands may also be considered. Opting for a mediation or arbitration instead of an adversarial court hearing may be better. However, whatever the option decided, it is important to have an experienced lawyer handle the case.




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