Whether you're a mother or a
father, preparing for a custody battle is emotional and exhausting. Parenting
is hard on any relationship. Let alone on parents who are no longer in a
relationship. There is a lot to consider when trying to come up with an agreement
between co-parents on how to raise a child in separate homes. Let’s talk about
5 tips that will help prepare you for a potential custody battle.
- Collect - Collect text
messages, screen shots of social media accounts, and any records pertaining to your child at issue with the other party. This will help determine who has been going to appointments, how both parties have been communicating with each other, and how the parties are acting in public.
- Document - Document difficulties you have had with your co-parent. For example, make a calendar of the days each parent has had the child. Start a chronological timeline of what has led to the breakdown of your co-parent relationship.
- Save - Save the funds required to hire and maintain an attorney. Although we try to be budget-conscious, most attorneys charge $225-$325 per hour and custody cases get complicated quickly. You should find an attorney that specializes in family law and custody disputes to help ensure your funds are used more efficiently.
- Engage - Engage in your child’s life. A judge can tell the difference between a parent who plays an active role in their child's lives and those that are passive actors in it.
- Monitor - Monitor your social media profiles and your exes. Do not discuss your case or parenting issues online. Do not post photos (or get tagged in photos) that show you partying and not parenting. Even if you are getting along with your ex, you need to be ready for what happens when you don’t.
Having an attorney hired already will save you time, chaos, and stress. Plus, they can help ensure your agreements with your ex are legally sound and will stand up in Court. Call our team at 605-777-1772 and we will help you ensure your time with your child is protected.
