You often here that the “system” is not fair to fathers when there is a custody battle. As a child custody lawyer Arlington TX trusts we often hear from fathers who believe that the law only looks out for the best interest of the mother in any “custody” case. The fact of the matter is that courts in Texas look out for the best interest of the child in any “custody” case. Father’s need to understand that a court will look at the facts in the case to determine the best interest of the child. Here are a few helpful tips for fathers to think about when beginning a custody battle.
1. Don’t leave the house.
a. If you are married and are living together stay in the house. Do not leave the house and move to another place. It is understandable that many fathers may want to keep the peace and allow for some reconciliation however, this move can be viewed negatively. Leaving the house may impact your first impression with the Judge in your case. Best case scenario is to avoid any conflict at all and sleep in another room while the case is pending.
2. Know your stuff
a. If we were to ask you the following questions what would be your answer? What is the name of your child’s teacher? What is the name of your child’s pediatrician? When is your child’s birthday? If you cannot answer those questions, then you will have problems in Court. An involved father would know the answers to these questions and more. Keep a journal of everything that has to do with your child.
3. Be involved
a. A father who is fighting for his child would be involved in the daily activities of the child. Feeding, bathing, playing, you name it. What exactly do you do with your child on a daily basis? Oftentimes, the mother of the child can say exactly what the routine is concerning the child whereas, the father has no idea what is going on. Document your activities with your child and get to know his/her schedule intimately.
4. Document, document, document
a. Documentation is key during any custody battle. Text messages, electronic mail, journals, calendars are all good ways to keep up with documentation of your case. Proof is a lot more convincing than he said she said. A Judge will look at the evidence presented a weigh all of the facts in the case. The determination is a lot easier when there is convincing evidence versus no evidence.
The above tips are not an exhaustive list but, a snippet of things you should do as a father when facing a custody battle. If you find yourself in the middle of a custody battle, please contact a family law attorney today.
Thanks to our friends and contributors from Brandy Austin Law Firm, PLLC for their insight into family law practice.