Child custody cases in California can be complex but the family court has criteria to guide them when reaching their judgments. The most important of which is the best interests of the child. The court will always rule in a way that tries to reflect this.
There are, however, things that you can do to strengthen your case. You want to do everything in your power to present a positive image as a parent. In practical terms, how do you go about doing this?
Try your best to cooperate
Issues around divorce, particularly custody cases, are often portrayed as adversarial proceedings, and they can turn into this if you’re not careful.
It’s actually better for everyone involved to cooperate as much as possible. By putting the best interests of the child in front of your own, the court will get to see you in a positive light.
Be there for your children
The divorce might have been rough on you. You may have been forced to leave the family home, which means you no longer live with your child. Out of protest, you might choose to disengage from your ex, which in turn means not being as active with your children. This is something you want to avoid.
Even if your ex is trying to make life difficult for you, do everything that you can to show that you are there for your child. If physical visits are not feasible, then you can still keep in touch by phone, email or other forms of technology until custody matters are settled.
One of the most crucial steps to take during your custody case is to seek some legal guidance. This will help to protect both you and your children.