How to Win a Custody Battle

You and your spouse are fighting over the most important thing--the living, breathing and impressionable children that you created together. If it's possible, you can work through a facilitator to create an amicable agreement to try and keep the court out of it and keep peace for the sake of the kids involved. If things have already moved beyond that, there is still a chance for less drama and more happiness. Some tips to help you in this process are below.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Lawyer or facilitator

1. If you're already in court and trying to win your custody battle, the easiest way to gain points in the battle is to start by treating your spouse and the judge with respect.

2. Have a steady job, a good track record, a secure place to live, transportation and a childcare arrangement for when you are occupied. It helps if you have already been a reliable, hands-on parent in your child's daily life.

3. Offer to participate in any court-suggested counseling sessions, therapy or treatment programs, or bring proof of these programs you may have already successfully completed. A court wants to see that you have addressed the issues and made progress toward being a reliable parent and providing the perfect home for your kids.

4. Ideally, the best way to win a custody battle is to constantly be trying to look past your grievances with your spouse and focus on the children that you made together. The children will want both mom and dad, and they deserve both parents to be responsible, competent and available to them. Your children should reside where they are safest, loved and well-cared for.

Tips & Warnings

• If both parents can each provide good environments separately, then hire a facilitator and make the custody arrangements peaceful.
• Be honest with yourself, your spouse and your lawyer. It will help you figure out how much custody (full, joint or visitation)you can handle at this point in your life.

[MONIQUE21]

on 1/25/2008 easier said then done