Some people feel that the court is biased when it comes to Child Custody issues. They may feel that the mother is favored and that the father doesn’t get a chance at custody.
The truth, with regard to child custody, is that the courts look at what is in the best interest of the child. If the child lives with one parent and you now want to make a change to that custody arrangement, you would need to show significant reasons that would warrant the change. Here are some reasons that would warrant a change in custody:
- Abuse or neglect of the child
- Child is doing poorly in school, has frequent absences, comes to school unprepared etc.
- Child is getting into trouble with the law, has disciplinary issues
- Child and/or parent is involved in illegal activity such as drugs
There are many other factors that the court will review as well. The main point here is that the reasons for a change in custody must be significant. A consultation with an experienced Family Law Lawyer will help you identify the factors that a judge would deem important enough to change the custody arrangement. The best protocol is to file a Request for Order with a detailed declaration as to the factors and reasons that support a change.
Remember, custody battles can be very contentious and costly. Based on the facts, the judge may order that a lawyer represent the interests of the child and/or may request court-ordered evaluation. The costs associated with these services are usually born by both parents.
If you are interested in getting sound legal advice about child custody issues, give Legal Action Workshop a call @ 1-800-HELP-444 (1-800-435-7444) or visit www.LegalActionWorkshopLAW.com for more information.