| Child custody battles for fathers and mothers are | | | | generally have to establish paternity to obtain custody |
| often the most challenging part of a divorce when | | | | and visitation rights while mothers typically do not. |
| children are involved. However, not all custody battles | | | | Paternity is also an important step for unwed mothers |
| have to wind up in court or necessitate a judge | | | | seeking to establish child support payments. It's |
| deciding the parenting plan for the parents. Regardless | | | | important for moms and dads to understand the |
| of whether parents are attempting to work out their | | | | different legal challenges, their rights and how to best |
| custody issues or disagreements out-of-court or in | | | | prepare their case. |
| front of a judge in court, it is important for parents to | | | | While attorneys can provide "legal advice" and explain |
| understand their custody rights and learn how to | | | | how the law applies to a specific situation, they often |
| prepare their case. | | | | fall short in areas such as providing their clients with |
| Mothers and fathers should spend time becoming | | | | practical case enhancing tips and educating them |
| informed and educated about the court process for | | | | about the family court process, exploring out-of-court |
| custody determinations and modifications. Most all | | | | settlement options and the pros and cons of each |
| states use some form of the "best interest of the | | | | option, preparing relevant questions for the attorney |
| child" standard in custody determinations or | | | | and how to effectively use the attorney to reduce |
| modifications. It is important for parents to understand | | | | legal costs, how to create effective parenting plans, |
| what this means to court officials and how to prepare | | | | teaching parenting techniques, explaining how to |
| for it. Also, parents should research alternative dispute | | | | document and organize case facts. |
| resolution options that may be available to them which | | | | Whether a divorce child custody battle ends up in |
| can have the effect of avoiding a long-drawn out child | | | | court or whether the dispute is being addressed out of |
| custody battle. Educated parents who are focused on | | | | court, parents need to be properly informed and |
| the best interest of their children and have clear goals | | | | educated about relevant child custody factors, how to |
| and realistic expectations are more likely to avoid | | | | document their case, how to build a parenting plan, and |
| custody battles in court and avoid disputes out of | | | | what steps they should be taking to present the best |
| court. | | | | case possible. |
| Moms and dads can face different legal challenges in | | | | Copyright © 2009 Child Custody Coach(TM). All |
| the family court. For example, unmarried fathers | | | | rights reserved. |