Anticipating your first ever child custody hearing can be a scary experience, especially since it will likely mean a great deal for you and your family. In order to have the best possible experience and to get an ideal result in your child custody case, it is a good idea to make some preparations in advance and understand what you should expect.
It’s always important to read up a little about the specific child custody laws that will apply to you. These are what the judge will be guided by, so it is important to know what he or she will base his or her decisions on. In general, it is good to remember that the judges will seek to rule in the favor of whatever they believe will be in the best interests of the child.
The reasoning when it comes to filing for sole custody
If both parents are filing for sole custody, it can be a bitter fight. This is where the “better parent standard” comes into effect. This means that the judge needs to be convinced that one parent is better than the other. In this situation, you will need to do a lot to prove that you will be the best caregiver for your child.
In addition to being emotionally prepared and understanding the law, it is important to dress smartly, and be organized with all the correct paperwork. In this way, you can ensure that you will set the best possible impression in front of the judge, and stand the best chance of getting the preferred custody outcome.
Source: The Spruce, “Prepare for a Child Custody Hearing,” accessed March 30, 2018
