subject: Child Custody When Your Family Breaks Up [print this page] Family court is designed with the intention of helping families through a difficult period in their life. This usually occurs when the family is being pulled apart as a result of a divorce and the children are living with both parents. The purpose of this process is to look at what may be best for the children and make a decision. What the judge is responsible to do is use his experience in order to decide where they children should live. The ability to grant custody to either parent is what the judge must decide and this process can take many months.
During child custody cases both parents are allowed time to present their case during the hearing. The judge may consider information such as finances and employment history as well as other factors that may determine the parent who can best take care of the child or children. A child custody hearing is intended to be sure that the children have the best possible chances at being successful. This is the reason that a child custody case can sometimes take many years. The court might also look at your credit history as well as any opportunities for promotions at your current employer. This is to determine the best living situation where the children can thrive.
The court may grant custody to one of the child or children to one parent or it may decide a shared custody agreement is the best option. If neither of the parents has a good financial history, courts generally grant custody to the mom. Dads are sometimes give some of the custodial rights, but conditions may be attached. Fathers that desire to keep their children will want to retain an attorney with experience in matters of family court. Hiring a good attorney is the primary difference between fathers who get custody and those who do not. Dads that feel their children are worth the money should hire the best attorney possible to present the case.
The most important part of a child custody case is to convince the judge that you have the desire to see the best for the child. The environment is tense and emotional, so it can be difficult for parents to convince a judge, making the work of the attorney even more important. Parents with the custody of the child often have the best bonding times.
The most important reason to obtain custody of your children is that your interactions with the children are what will shape them as they get older. The environment a child lives in and is raised in will determine what kind of person they will eventually become. What they like, dislike, their ideas, will all come from how they are raised. If you desire to have your child become a better person, it is imperative that you seek the best legal council you can afford. You may however be able to get some free legal advice which will allow you to decide how to best handle your situation.
