Many fathers do not clearly understand their rights during a divorce, especially where children are involved. As a result, they may give up on custody because of fear of losing in the courts owing to gender bias. However, every parent has equal parenting rights over their children and can be considered for full custody. Fathers deserve visitation and must be consulted when children face issues such as school struggles or illness. Here are a few tips that can help fathers win cases on child custody rights of fathers in Orange County.
Be present
If you want to win your custody case, you need to be present in the lives of your children. You do not want the courts to view you as a stranger when it comes to your kids. Ensure that you are always there for your child or children by regularly picking them up from daycare or school, attending doctors’ appointments, school meetings, sports games, and much more.
Try negotiating
Before you go to the courts for an expensive and lengthy custody battle, dads should consider negotiating with the mother of the child for a parenting plan or parenting agreement. When both parents come to an agreement, it can help them to avoid the frustrations, emotional stress, and costs involved in child custody cases. In addition, it will help create a better co-parenting environment that the kids can thrive in. Your custody attorney can help you with mediation whenever possible.
Have a plan
The judge will expect any father to be prepared for custody of their child in case it is awarded to him. A father should be realistic about what he can handle, especially if he has other responsibilities such as multiple jobs or other kids. This is because multiple responsibilities may hinder the ability of the father to assume full custody of a child. Fathers should also be ready to handle questions that may be asked by a judge, for example, questions regarding living accommodations, financial preparedness, the child’s education, and after-school activities.
Seek good references
A father needs to establish that they are a good parent through the opinion of other people to win the case on child custody rights of fathers in Orange County. Therefore, fathers need to ask their family members, co-workers, and even friends to write affidavits that explain their personality and what great parents they really are. Fathers involved in volunteer programs or church can have strong affidavits from these places. A judge will be inclined to believe a father who has a list of potential witnesses and affidavits from different people and not just mere words.
Consider remarrying
In cases where you and your ex-spouse are already divorced, or you have never been married before, you should consider getting married or remarrying. However, you should avoid getting married as an attempt to win the custody case. This is because the courts will consider your new wife as a mother figure for your children. This is because a home that has both father and mother is considered to be a better option for children than one with a dad only.
These tips will help you to prepare for your case and can have a positive impact on the custody case. However, fathers need to know that a lot is considered when it comes to getting visitation rights or obtaining custody as a father. By working with a seasoned and experienced custody attorney, you will have a better chance of getting what you really deserve as a dad.