When you are divorcing your spouse — or soon to be ex-spouse — and children are involved, you may feel confused about your rights as a parent. You might want custody of your child, or on the other hand, you may wish to come to an arrangement that suits you, your ex, and your children. Whatever the case might be, it is advisable to have a good child custody lawyer, on your side.
Child Custody Cases
When parents are trying to gain custody of their children, often it is the children who suffer the most. Their schooling may be affected, as may be their social interactions, behaviors, and other elements in their life. Child custody battles can result in deep scars that may never fully heal; therefore, it is important to tread carefully and always keep the interests of the child in mind. When you are trying to arrange the custody of your child, a child custody lawyer might ask you to consider the following:
Are You Prepared to Fight for Custody Even When You Know Your Child May Be Affected?
A child custody battle can extend for months, or even years, before a conclusion can be reached. Remember, your child might not be in the meetings or courtroom, but they will know that something is going on. Your child may face an immense amount of stress, especially if one or both parents are making suggestions to them that they might not understand. As a child custody lawyer might explain, children are smarter than many people realize. They often have concerns about where they will live, what school they will go to, whether they will see their mom, dad, or grandparents, and so forth. This is a sensitive subject that must not be ignored.
Are You Okay with Your Child Being Forced to Partake in Sit-Ins and Interviews?
It is not uncommon for children of a certain age to be asked to partake in interviews with child custody lawyers, counselors, judges, and other personnel of the court. They may ask a broad range of questions that could make them feel worried, scared, or afraid.
Are You Willing to Risk the Mental Health of Your Child?
A divorce can affect a child for years, or even decades. If there are arguments between the parents or comments made to the child, psychological issues can result. The consequences of this could be broad and include depression, PTSD, high anxiety, and more.
Reading the aforementioned might make you, as a parent, feel uncomfortable. However, these are things that you should not forget. Regardless of what you might want, don’t let your interests overtake those of your child’s.
Would It Not Be Better to Negotiate a Child Custody Arrangement?
Most likely you don’t want your child to have to go through emotional and mental anguish. To avoid this, consider turning to a child custody lawyer for help. A good lawyer will encourage healthy dialogue between both parents to create an agreement that is practical, fair, and maintains the best interests of the child. To learn more, call a child custody lawyer today.
