During a divorce, one matter usually stands out as the ultimate point of contention – custody of the children. In the next few articles, I will examine a few steps parents can take to ensure that they have the best opportunity to win custody of their children.
As with any conflict during a divorce proceeding, the best outcome generally results from communication and compromise between the divorcing couple. However, if these measures are not successful and custody of the children becomes a court decision, you will want to take any actions you can to improve your chances of obtaining or retaining child custody.
Divorce and a potential custody battle is certainly one of the most emotionally draining events you will ever face. As a parent, you will have the best chance to prevail in a legal custody dispute if you diligently pursue emotional stability, both for yourself and your children.
When struggling with a child custody battle, parents should pay particular attention to the emotional welfare of their children. Most courts very carefully examine the essential elements of child welfare including neglect, abandonment or abuse. For this reason, seeking out an emotional support group for yourself and psychological counseling for your children will demonstrate to the court that you have a genuine interest in providing an emotionally stable environment.
A parent facing a custody dispute should also work to ensure that his or her personal actions are of a respectable nature. You can ensure that complicating factors, such as accusations of promiscuous behavior, are not drawn into the litigation by avoiding nightlife, dating, and any new intimate and personal relationships.
Along with any advice I can give you on this web site, you can greatly improve your chances of prevailing in your custody dispute if you obtain a copy of the Psychologists’ Child Custody Strategies. Packed with far more information than I could possibly present in this blog, this book has made an enormous difference in the lives of many of my patients. You can get more information about this guide, and several others that I highly recommend, on the Resources page of this site.
