A child custody battle can be a very stressful experience. Not only will you be dealing with where the children will live, but you may also need to address child support payments, visitation arrangements, and other issues affecting post-divorce life for you and your kids.
Arriving at a Child Custody Agreement
The courts often prefer that the parents work on reaching an agreement first, as this may allow parents to create an arrangement that works best for everybody involved. When that’s not possible, courts may intervene. In the end, the courts will decide custody based upon the child’s best interest.
To help reach an settlement, remember these five tips when working on a child custody agreement:
- Your child’s best interests come first – This should dictate the discussion more than anything else, but be sure your own rights are accounted for as well.
- Don’t fan the flames – There’s no sense in making things worse than they have to be. For the sake of the kids, keep any incendiary comments to yourself.
- Be courteous – Keep in mind the other parent’s schedule and professional or personal demands when creating an agreement. Doing so may lead him or her to be more mindful of yours, too.
- Cooperate – If you are the custodial parent, make efforts to keep the other parent involved. If you are the non-custodial parent, exercise all visitation rights.
- Try to avoid litigation – Going to court can be stressful for you and you’re your kids. Working with your ex (and your lawyers) to create a fair and balanced custody agreement can help keep a lot of stress out of the process.
Don’t Spurn Legal Assistance for Custody Disputes
It can be difficult to keep the battle out of a custody case, but if you can at least make an effort to temper things, it can go much smoother. Avoiding court doesn’t mean you should forego legal representation or guidance. Contact an attorney at Warren & Migliaccio and take a look at our FREE divorce guide. Give us a call at 888-584-9614 to review your child custody case or other related concerns.
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