Winning Child Custody Strategies

When you begin a child custody battle, everything will be difficult and confusing and almost bring your everyday life to a halt. Not having a clear picture of the matter can put you in a state of anxiety.

Moreover, you will be in time constraints because you need the right information now and not in six weeks when the case in court will be probably closed and the custody of your child will be already decided.

A successful child custody battle is often easy to win if you can access the right knowledge in time. Maybe you already know the child custody law of your state (if not take a look at this outstanding publication) but that's more about a successful child custody struggle than to know the law.

Click Here to Learn More about Laws & Child Custody Strategies!

Most people think that their success is almost guaranteed if they choose a good (and very expensive) lawyer, but they're distant from truth.

Yes, a good attorney is important, but more important is what you ask him to do in order to get the best chances for a favorable arrangement in your custody case. Furthermore, when you know this you can save money on the lawyer fee because you can avoid papers and work not needed.

Your success will depend on the things your lawyer will do to present your case to the court, but the lawyer needs guide to... from you!

Undoubtedly he is the expert of the law and its subtlety, but you are the real expert of your case, and you have all the necessary knowledge to show him the way towards victory.

However this is an elaborate strategy that can differ from case to case, but the good news is that you can find a comprehensive guide on the Internet called "Child Custody Strategies (For Men & Women)" that put a special stress on the strategies that will make your own attorney work harder for you.

Other frequent issues in a child custody battle are the object of this guide, like the role of "bias", the most frequent error made by parents, the bribed or manipulated child, etc.

Very important is the chapter dealing with the strategies that may be used against you...

Click Here to Learn More about the Winning Child Custody Strategies...

When you're suffering for your divorce and for the breaking up of your previous life you will receive a tremendous blow if your partner will try to alienate the child from you. This happens quite often and you have to know all you can to front this horrible situation.

The psychologists call this scenario "parental alienation syndrome" and is more than likely that your attorney can't help you very much, at least not on the emotional side of this struggle.

The most important thing you have to know is that you have good chances to overcome it all if you get the right information and guide.

And when I say "information" I don't think about laws, attorneys, courts. None at all... I mean the winning psychological strategies...

Here are some of the most common symptoms of parental alienation syndrome:

• The child use foul language against you
  
  
• The child invents situations that never happened before between you and him
  
  
• The child seems to protect exaggeratedly your partner
  
  
• The child strongly asserts he's "an independent thinkers" and nobody did plagiarize him in his hate against you
  
  
• There's not ambivalence in the child behavior, he's only bad feelings against you
  

There are of course many other behaviors that can be included in the parental alienation syndrome, and you can find exhausting definition and remedies in the PAS Guidebook by two of the countries most-respected psychologists, Dr. Barry Bricklin and Dr. Gail Eliott.

Among other factors you have to take in consideration the possibility of a serious mental illness of the spouse who's trying to alienate the child from you. For example there's a type of factitious disorder, known as the "Munchausen syndrome by proxy". But you can find a comprehensive guide to overcome the parental alienation syndrome in The PAS Package.

Child custody cases are nowadays subject to much greater scrutiny at courts than before. What used to be a straightforward victory for the mother or the principal bread winner has developed into a grueling affair of deliberation without any sure result. Due to this, it is necessary for parents to concentrate on preparing themselves before their custody hearing. These are some basic steps that can guide you towards the right direction.

Choose the Right Lawyer The most important venture you will take with you child custody case is to appoint a practice lawyer. Don't simply open the yellow pages and call the one with the largest advertisement. Find a counselor who has several records of winning cases that were similar to yours. You should also target someone who has worked with your judge on past cases. Another yardstick is to search for a lawyer who is a Certified Family Law Specialist.

Organize Your Finances Financial constancy will have a primary part to play in your case, and therefore you should ensure you have all your financial records in order and ready to be produced. Payment slips, bank statements an investment reports would be the likely documents that the court would demand to peruse. If you manage to have all the information ready to produce, you would appear as a systematic individual an subsequently qualified to be considered for custody.

Track Child Care Costs The more you know about your child's daily requirements, the better you will fare in the court proceedings. Start maintaining a log early in the case an keep track of all the applicable expenses related to raising your child properly. Food, apparel, health care are just a few of the costs you should keep records of. Not only will this information show your concern for your child's well-being, but it will also be use to calculated how much your spouse would contribute for your child's support payments.

Clean Up Your History If you have any shady past records,it would ideal for you take care of them at this point. Drug abuse, infidelity, and unemployment are all negative factors and could, in an adverse manner, affect your chances for custody greatly. Though you can never change the past,you could always try to alter yourself.

The court always encourages honest attempts and your efforts for bettering yourself will not go unnoticed. Cleaning up the dirt from your past should be your primary concern. You will have to prove to the judge that you are honestly working very hard to rectify the wrongs you had one in your life.

Dig Up Some Dirt Just as your own past can prove harmful,your spouse's past too can be use to serve your own purpose. It may seem vengeful an aggressive to openly declare your spouse's flaws, but it is your child's best interest for the judge to be informed about all the causes that triggered your separation. Documents are vital to the substantiation of your claims. Therefore, ascertain that you have the necessary proof at hand before you point your finger.

The word custody refers to the judicial, legal an custodial rights of the parent to the child. It also pertains to certain particular duties and responsibilities on part of the parent for the child.

There are various forms of child custody arrangement. The parents may amicably settle for a joint custody while in other cases it has been foun that one of the parents eman sole custody. This choice of arrangement depends on the state from which you hail.

Also, the arrangement may vary from a certain locality to another. The jurisdiction of your locality may be different from that of your neighboring locality. The choice can also be made depending upon the preference of the spouse or the needs of the ward.

It is very important for you to know the intricacies of the judicial procedure as this would enable to make a better and favorable arrangement for your child. It might not be easy. Honestly speaking, it is not easy at all. But then, this is something within your means.

Know where you stand and hold on to the ground that might give you the winning edge. The tips provided below would surely help you make favorable custody arrangements for your child.

1. All child custody arrangements emphasize on the welfare of the child. There is no particular yardstick which can determine the well being of the child. It is judge generally based on the circumstances of the parent an what the child requires. If you want custody of your child, you ought to show everything that you can provide for your child which would give him/her a secure future.

2. Give a logical justification beyond what your motivation is. Be careful of the things that you tell the judge or mediator. Emphasize on what you think woul be best for the child and how you can provide it for him. You must be careful not to criticize or paint your spouse in grey as this can be viewed as a measure of retaliation. This can be detrimental and you might land up losing the custody of the child. It is advised that you highlight the strong points of your case instead.

3. There are people who fight their cause in the court without representation. Never do this. You might worry about the expenses of hiring a lawyer. But a good lawyer may not be necessarily expensive. You should choose a person who specializes in family law. One of the benefits of having a lawyer is that he can represent you well and arrange for favorable child custody. This professional should be experienced and he must know the guardians an evaluators who can help in the case.

4. It has been seen that most judges and mediators judge a parent by their expressions and their behavior during the procedure. So, its very important for you to keep calm while you are being evaluated. This would put you at a better and stronger disposal and help you win the case.

5. Stay in contact with your kids. Stand by them so that they can easily sail through this crucial phase. Be understanding and cooperative and do not lose your patience and temper with them. You would automatically know how to secure a favorable arrangement if deep down in your heart you are attached to the child and know how to care for him/her. There are many ways to arrange for a favorable custody for your child. But the master key that can lead to success is being a good an responsible parent. Your child should be your first and foremost priority.

The phrase "in the child's best interest" is widely use in the family court in child custody proceedings. But it is used in many arbitrary senses by the family court or judges. Also, its meaning is slightly vague. The child custody law differs from state to state, thus, there is no uniform legal yardstick which determines what would be best for the child.

Some states make provision an insist on joint custody of the child while others do not. It is being found that some states are amending the existing laws and adopting a preference for joint custody while the others are amending the law to provide for joint custody only if the couple agrees to it.


Like most of the other states, child custody in California is decided depending on the health, safety, welfare, education of the child. He should also be brought up in a congenial atmosphere which would allow free play of creative impulse in him. The child must have frequent an continuing contact with both parents.

But the Constitution of California does not put forth a preference or presumption for or against joint custody or custody to one parent, therefore leaving the parenting plan decision up to the discretion of the family court or judge. In 1979, it adopted a presumption for joint custody but later amended the law in 1994 an made provisions for joint custody when both parents agree to it.

As per the American Bar Association website, other states like Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, Vermont and Washington also allow joint custody only if the parents agree to it. States which put forth a presumption for joint custody are District of Columbia, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico and Texas.

There are a handful of states which specifically do not authorize joint custody. There is a rising trend in favor of joint custody. Many countries are amending their laws. New bills are being passed and new legislations being introduced which would allow for joint custody. It is believed that this is being done in the best interest of the ward.

But in case either of the parents is unfit for taking responsibility or can not fulfill the requirements of the childthen this idea is given a miss. But all states have not yet amended their present system and made place for joint custody.

In case you are involved in child custody dispute, be it initial custody or modification of the prevailing custody, it is advisable that you consult a family law attorney in your jurisdiction who would explain to you the intricacies of the law an how it woul apply to your case in specific. He would also tell you the criteria for determining the best interest of your child. This would make you aware of your child custody responsibilities and rights.

Always, the most controversial issue in a divorce is that of child custody. The issue gains even more momentum when the child concerned is a special needs child.

There are some reasons which can used to illustrate the specialty of such cases. Care of the Child: In most instances, both parents love all the children, regardless of the fact that they may be special needs children.

However, in such delicate situations, great amounts of love can also become insufficient. Inordinate patience is needed with a special needs child, as well as the right amount of understanding, not only of their state, but also of their characteristic habits, tendencies and quirks which give them their distinctiveness. Some of these factors can be aggravated by their special condition.

They may react to certain situations in a manner that would be far from how a regular child would respond. This could something as simple as concentrating on a television event, or as perilous as exaggerated outbursts toward either themselves or others. This situation evidently requires intensive discussion at a parent custody hearing.

Cost and Time of Medical Care: Both the time and money required to care for a special
needs child are vastly greater than those needed for regular children. With a good insurance policy a great deal of the medical expenses for the child can be taken care of, but unfortunately no such arrangement can be made for compensation of time. A custodian would have to devote liberal amounts of time for all the child's activities, which would include taking them for medical checkups, home care and therapy. This is evidently an issue that would be needed to be discussed at the hearing.

Simple Ability for Dealing with the Situation: Even a parent needs to have special
abilities in order to handle a special needs child. You must always be aware of the harsh truth that despite age your child may never be able to overcome the need for constant care and attention due to his/her condition. In some cases, the child might be able to look after him/herself after a point of time, but this can be achieved only after many patient years of therapy and love. Even individuals who make great parents might fail in that task when it comes to special needs kids. This cannot be called failure on their part. It is just as plain as the simple truth that not all people are cut out for all kinds of work.

As these few factors may exemplify, this matter is not easy to deal with, much less form a concrete decision about. The solution could be as simple as the fact that of the two parents, one is obviously better suited and inclined to the child's needs and concerns.

Most parents are however unwilling to admit that they cannot manage their own children. This creates a huge problem in such situations. Parents of special needs children should scrutinize and contemplate the issue of custody extremely attentively and ensure that they are considering what is best for their child and not just satisfying their personal claims and desires.