For women only? I'd say that the advice is just as good for men, if not moreso. The only thing that men usually can't gain an advantage from that women often do are: - Filing false domestic violence charges. - Obtain a fraudulent restraining order unsupported by any objective evidence. - If children are involved, accuse your ex-spouse of sexually abusing them. Those extra benefits available only to women will all but guarantee the car, the house, the children, and a steady income stream during divorce proceedings. more »

The most important thing you could do is to continue to foster and encourage a positive relationship with the father. Ensure that the father is meaningful part of the child's life and don't use the child as a weapon in a contentious divorce situation. Far too often and particularly due to the reality that family court is tilted heavily in favor of mothers, father's are pushed out of their childrens' lives even though that are fit and willing. Don't use the child as a weapon against your ex-husband. Children need two loving parents in their lives, even if their parents couldn't make it work. http://www.thepsychoexwife.com more »

Unfortunately in this country, family courts are tilted heavily in favor of the mother and father's chances of obtaining meaningful custody of his child(ren) are small before the process even gets started. Even the most perfect, willing, and fit fathers lost the lion's share of custody to mothers simply because the child support industry thrives and grows on the imposition of unreasonably high child support awards. Some states have a rebuttal presumption of shared custody, but they should all have it. Studies show that in the few states with a rebuttal presumption of joint custody, the divorce rates are lower (the child cannot be used as a pawn for financial gain by the mother), and child custody litigation is substantially lower (for the very same reasons). It doesn't take a genius to realize that when you remove the incentives associated with using the child(ren) as weapons more »