7 Tips for Winning a Child Custody Case

Child custody cases are common in divorce and are usually very emotional. They are complex, especially where neither of the partners is ready to compromise to arrive at an agreement but wants full or sole custody of the child/ children. If you and your co-parent cannot agree out of court, the court decides your custody case based on the child’s best interests.

As the parent who wants full custody of your child, the burden of proof is higher on your side, meaning you must convince the court to rule in your favor. However, doing so is challenging and requires a lot of preparation and implementing the right strategies. This article discusses several tips for winning a child custody case.

Table of Contents

1. Take The Drug And Alcohol Assessment Test

Drug and alcohol use/ abuse can hurt your child custody case. While moderate drinking may not affect your ability to adequately care for your children, substance abuse or excess drinking may pose a threat to them.

Since a child custody case outcome should be in the child’s best interest, the judge might rule that it isn’t safe for their emotional well-being and physical safety to stay under the care of a guardian whose decision-making and behavior may be impacted by substance abuse disorders.

If your partner has falsely accused you of excessive drinking or other substance abuse, taking a family court drug and alcohol assessment can help prove otherwise. Alternatively, if your co-parent is an excessive drinker or drug abuser, undergoing the same test can help show the court that they’re a potential threat to the child’s safety and well-being.

2. Hire a Child Custody Lawyer

Hiring a skilled and qualified child custody attorney is essential to winning your case. They have the skills and experience to help you get a favorable custody outcome. Considering how stressful divorce cases can be, seeking child custody help can significantly lower the stress of battling child custody cases.

They’ll give you professional legal advice, making navigating the child custody complexities easier. Since skilled family court lawyers are experienced in handling child custody matters, you’re assured of your child custody case’s speedy resolution, preventing unnecessary delays and reducing the time and stress of fighting such cases.

Fighting a custody case without the assistance of a qualified family lawyer may cause you to make mistakes that might compromise your win. Working with a child custody attorney is the best way to avoid errors that might cost your child’s custody. When looking for a child custody lawyer, ensure they have experience fighting cases like yours and a winning track record. This increases the chances of winning your case.

3. Focus on Your Child’s Best Interest

A child’s best interest forms the basis for many custody rulings, no matter the location. It’s meant to safeguard a child’s emotional, physical, and mental well-being while ascertaining that the parents can offer them the best upbringing possible. To win your child’s custody, you must prove that you, as a parent, can serve their best interest. You should show that your kid is well and prepare a parenting strategy to prove that you value their protection and care.

Spend quality time with your child and track it to present a report about the same in court as evidence. This is because judges are likely to favor the parent who spends much time with them as they’re likely to know the child better. Since your child will benefit the most with both parents in their life, prove that you’re ready to co-parent. You should also have a safe and peaceful environment for your kid to stay in, as this will give you a better chance of winning the custody case.

4. Cooperate With Your Co-Parent

After your divorce or separation, you and your co-parent will continue being in one another’s lives to raise your child together. This is why fostering a civil and more cooperative relationship is essential. If the court feels that you aren’t supportive of your co-parent’s relationship with your children or being in their lives, that will negatively impact you and may even contribute to losing the custody case. You can devise a written parenting agreement or plan suitable for your child’s needs with your partner.

Cooperating with your ex-spouse on child custody matters could mean making decisions depending on kids’ well-being, understanding your strengths and weaknesses as a parent, and being ready to consider other custody and visitation arrangements while being able to voice your preferences.

5. Address Everything That Might Work Against You

When fighting child custody, be ready for all your life aspects to be investigated. As such, you must understand what issues may not work to your advantage and address them immediately. If any possible issues are discovered, your family law lawyer will guide you on how to reduce their impact on your child custody quest. They’ll also assess your situation and advise you on the best possibilities for a favorable outcome. Be in a good relationship with other parents and ensure positive communication. Avoid saying nasty things to or about them that might give the judge a wrong perception of you.

6. Be Careful With Your Social Media Use

A questionable social media presence can negatively impact your child custody case’s outcome. While harmless posts and comments may not affect the case in any way, posting, commenting, or liking controversial content such as drug and alcohol abuse can compromise your winning chances. What you do on social media may be used as proof against you in court to show that you’re irresponsible and unfit for your child’s welfare.

For instance, a photo of you with bottles of liquor and shot glasses may be used to insinuate that you can bring alcohol or drugs around your children and expose them to potential harm. To be safe, you can stay off social media as long as the custody case continues. Alternatively, be cautious about what you post, comment on, or like.

7. Opt for an Out-Of-Court Agreement If Possible

Avoiding a legal battle is the best alternative to smoothly getting child custody. Agreeing amicably and coming to an understanding concerning child custody can save you a lot of time, stress, and money.