California parents who are going through a divorce and seeking custody of their children should make sure that they plan well so that they can have a better chance of reaching a positive outcome. This may help alleviate some of the stress and uncertainty child custody disputes can cause.
Planning a course of action involves researching and using the services of a family law attorney with the skills to handle a child custody case. It also requires that parents spend time understanding the child custody statutes in their state.
Parents should not assume that the family court judge will make a decision their favor. The judge’s only duty is to make a ruling that is in the best interest of the children. Parents should focus on proving to the court that they also want what is best for their children.
There are multiple factors the judge must consider when making a decision regarding to whom to award child custody. They include the court’s standard on what makes one person a better parent than the other, supporting documentation submitted by each party, the manners and appearances of both parents while in court and the willingness of each parent to communicate with the other.
Most importantly, the court’s child custody decision will depend on what is in the best interests of the children. This may be the exact opposite of what is most expedient for the parents.
A family law attorney should be consulted if child custody issues have to be addressed. The attorney may work to ensure that a parent’s rights are protected throughout the process.