Divorce can be mentally and emotionally taxing on both spouses, especially if they had kids before separation. If you go about your child custody dispute incorrectly, you could scar your children for life and make your relationship with your ex-spouse stale. It would be best to resolve your custody battle amicably, using a Schaumburg child custody lawyer, to avoid exposing your children to an unhealthy environment. Here are a few tips on resolving child custody without engaging in a competition.
Keep away from social media.
Couples going through a divorce often get into legal trouble because of the posts they share on their social media profiles. Suppose your social media posts suggest that you are reckless, carefree, and a risk-taker; you are less likely to be granted full custody of the children. It is always smart to avoid social media until you resolve the child custody dispute. Remember, what you post on social media might be used against you. However, it could also work in your favor – if you know that your partner is an avid social media user, you could ask someone like these Birmingham private investigators to look into them and see if anything can be uncovered that might support your case for getting custody.
Formulate a custody plan.
If you don’t develop a viable custody plan to accommodate you and your spouse, the court will be forced to do that for you. Your custody plan should include time allocated for each parent to look after the children and designated pickup and drop-off locations. Ensure you have special events such as birthdays, vacations, and holidays in your custody plan.
Consider mediation
If you cannot see eye to eye with your ex-partner, you could try other techniques to resolve the differences. You could try divorce mediation to help resolve the child custody battle amicably.
During mediation, a neutral party listens to both sides of the story and helps them settle on a middle ground. Professionals practise and regularly deal with problem-solving, compromises, and finding innovative solutions to seemingly common problems. Maryland divorce mediation (or one in your local area) will also guide you in developing an appropriate custody plan that will cater to everybody’s needs.
Maintain records of every event.
If your custody battle seems heated, it would be best to document everything that involves the children. Examples of vital records you could keep include children’s visits, appointments with teachers, texts and emails with your spouse, and your children’s medical appointments. By maintaining clear records, you will be better positioned to demonstrate to the judge that you are willing to prioritize your child’s well-being.
Avoid badmouthing your spouse.
Even though you are parting ways with your spouse, your children still love them and see them as their parents. Children pick up on the tension in the house and silently watch and listen to what you say about the other parent. It would be best to refrain from making negative remarks about your spouse in their presence, as you might influence them to take sides.
Leave room for flexibility.
Even after you have agreed on a formidable custody plan, there are times you will not be able to arrive on time to pick up or drop off the kids, and therefore you may need to think about modifying child custody plans. If unavoidable circumstances arise and the set schedule stops working, ensure you sit down with your spouse to make the necessary changes. You can talk to your custody lawyer about adding caveats and backup plans to your plan.
Wrapping up
Tailoring your custody plan to fit your unique situation would be best. Seek professional help to make the process smooth. Also, ensure you listen to advice from your divorce lawyer or mediator, as advice from friends and family could sometimes be misleading.
