Custody battles often mean one thing: divorce or separation. It is never a pretty sight. A judge will decide the welfare of your child at this point. However, preparing for it will make things a bit easier. What should you expect during a custody battle? Here are some tips.
Start preparing
The first thing to do is find a child support attorney in Fort Worth. This attorney will guide you through the first steps to take. They often recommend preparing a parenting plan to cover the child’s schedule.
A schedule is necessary since the child no longer lives in one house. It will cover school attendance, social activities, vacations, and transportation, among others. After this plan is drawn out, you’ll need to share it with your ex during mediations. If it doesn’t work out, then the court will make the final decision.
Testimony
During the trial, you will be expected to give testimony to guide the judge in their decision. The judge will likely ask questions about child care to determine who spends more time caring for the child.
During this time, you should answer honestly and candidly. Depending on the situation, the judge may also listen to the child or children to hear their thoughts on the matter.
The judgment
After hearing both sides, the judge will make a ruling. This process doesn’t usually take time. The judgment will be based on several factors and must be in the best interest of the child in question. Some of these factors include the parents, who are familiar with the needs of the child.
A good example is a parent who knows their medical history by heart or their child’s schedule, as well as teachers and even friends. The relationship each child has with the parent will also be considered. Here, the court wants to ensure that the more capable parent who will provide both physically and emotionally for the child gets custody.
The living conditions of both parents are also considered. A judge is more likely to award full custody to a parent with suitable living conditions over one that stays in a smaller apartment. Employment and stability of both parents are considered to make sure that the child doesn’t lack.
The possible ruling
The court can award full or shared custody. For full custody, one parent stays with the child fully, while the other may get visitation rights based on what the court determines. It could be two hours a day. Or a few days during the holidays.
With full custody, one parent may be liable to pay child support every month until the child turns 18. This is not set in stone and can change in a few circumstances. One is when the paying parent loses their job. The payments may stop until they get another job.
Besides the parents, grandparents may also be considered in the ruling. The judge will designate days for grandparents to visit. Both sides can get visitation dates to prevent arguments in the future.
If any of the parties fail to adhere to the ruling, they can approach the court again on the matter.
