what to expect from your custody attorney

by Brian Ziemann 5 min read

What You Should Expect from a Great Child Custody Attorney

  • Experience. This is one of the biggest benefits of hiring a good family lawyer. An experienced attorney will have worked...
  • The Best Interest of You and Your Child. In a custody case, the future well-being of the child and parent is the most...
  • They’ll Guide You Through the Process. A great family lawyer knows...

Your child custody lawyer will also ask you many open-ended questions in order to engage in active listening. This means, they will try to get you to speak on various aspects of your life and marriage, so they can get a better idea about you, your family, and start helping you build a plan.Sep 21, 2018

Full Answer

What should I expect in a child custody case?

Mar 16, 2018 · What You Should Expect from a Great Child Custody Attorney Experience. This is one of the biggest benefits of hiring a good family lawyer. An experienced attorney will have worked... The Best Interest of You and Your Child. In a custody case, the future well-being of the child and parent is the ...

What happens during a child custody hearing?

The child custody attorneys will find it helpful if you bring several documents with you, such as: If your spouse or children's other parent has been violent with you or the children, any documentation that supports... A prenuptial agreement if you have one Any proof your spouse or children's other ...

Do I need an attorney to get custody of my child?

Sep 21, 2018 · Your attorney is not there to judge you; your attorney is there to help you and represent the best interests of you and your family. Active Listening. Your child custody lawyer will also ask you many open-ended questions in order to engage in active listening. This means, they will try to get you to speak on various aspects of your life and marriage, so they can get a …

How does a judge make a decision on child custody?

May 21, 2020 · Expect an Immediate Decision. After both parties have presented their side in defense of a particular custody arrangement, a judge will render his/her decision. When reaching a determination for child custody, a judge will make a decision based on the child's best interests. 1.

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Gathering Documents to Show to a Child Custody Attorney

The child custody attorneys will find it helpful if you bring several documents with you, such as:

Questions to Ask

It's helpful to collect your thoughts before you head out to your first initial consultation with a child custody attorney. Write them down on paper and bring them with you. You don't want to forget to ask something. Also bring some writing material so that you can jot down the answers.

Your Ideal Child Custody Lawyer

It is a worthwhile practice to consider what qualities your ideal child custody lawyer would have. That way, you'll recognize the right one when you meet. Here are some qualities to consider:

What to expect at a child custody hearing?

A parent who would like more information about what to expect during a child custody hearing should speak to his/her attorney or visit a public child custody hearing to prepare themselves for the child custody case. The best thing for parents to do is to prepare in advance. By preparing, a parent will be in the best position to win their child custody case .

What does a judge do when deciding custody of a child?

When reaching a determination for child custody, a judge will make a decision based on the child's best interests. 1 

Why won't a child custody case last long?

Therefore, there's a strong chance that a child custody case won't last very long because there might be a number of sessions being conducted. Parents participating in child custody proceedings should work with their attorneys to synthesize all information ...

What are the witnesses in a custody case?

Witnesses (including workers, school officials, etc.) The parties will testify about their experiences with the child and the parents.

Should parents walk into custody proceedings?

Parents should walk into all child custody proceedings as prepared as possible. Here's some information about what to expect during family court proceedings and how to prepare for the best possible outcomes.

What does a judge look at in a custody hearing?

A judge will look at each of the parents homes during a child custody hearing to determine the safety of the environment and its proximity to schools, health care, and shopping. A judge will also look at the number of bathrooms and bedrooms in the home to ensure the home can accommodate all the people who will live there .

What happens when a child disputes custody?

Child custody disputes end up in court when parents cannot agree on whats in the best interests of the child. In child custody court, the court reviews all the facts and circumstances of a case before granting custody to a parent. The courts ultimate goal is to create a custodial arrangement that serves the physical, psychological, ...

What is child custody court?

Child Custody Court. Child custody cases are most commonly associated with divorce, but they are also common in the case of unmarried parents, paternity disputes, guardianship, termination of parental rights, and juvenile delinquency. While the custody proceeding takes place, a judge wants to make sure the child is in a stable environment ...

Why do parents need to prove their work schedules?

Because a custodial parent will have to provide the bulk of emotional support to a child, the court measures how much time each parent allots for family time. As a result, parents need to prove their work schedules allow them flexibility to care for the youngster.

What to consider when trying to win custody battle?

The other thing you need to take into consideration when trying to win your child custody battle is what your ex is going to do. It doesn’t matter how reasonable and level-headed you are, if they decide to fight dirty then you’re almost guaranteed to lose your case.

What to do when you have a child custody battle with your ex?

The first and most important thing to do if you’re going through a child custody battle with your ex is knowing why you’re fighting for custody in the first place. There are a lot of people out there who want, or need, to win their child custody cases, but don’t know exactly what they’re fighting for. If this sounds like you, you might want ...

What happens if a non-custodial parent doesn't pay child support?

Myth #7: If the non-custodial parent doesn’t pay child support, the custodial parent loses their custody rights. This isn’t true, as it is entirely up to the court to decide how much the non-custodial parent must pay in order for them to have equal custody rights (or any at all).

What is the myth of child custody?

The Myths of Child Custody: Myth #1: The best parent is the one who most wants the child. This isn’t always true, as there are times when it is better to have two parents that don’t want to be with each other, but rather than fight they work together for their children’s sake.

What to teach kids during custody battle?

There are a lot of things that can go wrong if you’re going through a custody battle, but there are plenty of ways to use this as an opportunity to teach your kids valuable life lessons. This, in turn, will teach them to treat their children with kindness and respect even when they’re going through a bad period.

What to do if you are late to court?

If you’re late, don’t show up, or don’t let your ex know where/when/for how long your taking the kids then there’s going to be an issue.

Do you need a lawyer to get custody of your child?

However, if you have 50/50 legal custody then a lawyer is optional.

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