For those who decide to take their child custody issues to court, there are a number of formalities and local court rules that must be followed throughout the proceedings. In addition to these courtmandated procedures, parents should remember the many ways in which they can facilitate a smooth child custody case, such as the following:
Always try to remain calm. While custody cases can be stressful, it is crucial that you always try to remain calm and balanced when appearing in court. This conduct can help you in your presentation before the hearing judge and also help your focus throughout the case. If you are having significant trouble with anxiety, you should consider professional counseling to assist you.
Review your parenting style. The court’s custody decisions are influenced by the behavior and environment that will best benefit the child. As such, you should look at your own parenting style and evaluate any areas that may make the negativity impact the court’s decisions. For example, you can explore options of enhancing the quality of your time with the children during visitations or modify the way you handle the child’s discipline for bad behavior.
Ensure your children’s safety. There are numerous ways in which you can make your children safer and, in turn, make custody proceedings much easier for all those involved. By ensuring that your home is adequately childproofed and that your children are under proper supervision when in your care, you may increase the likelihood that the court will make favorable decisions concerning the quality and quantity of parenting time.
Since March 20, 2020, the courts have maintained remote hearings in most family law jurisdictions and will continue to do so until further notice.
