The custody battle for kids can be an emotional roller-coaster. If many mothers had their way, they would rather seek full custody of their children. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always turn out that way. Very often, relevant details provided to the court will determine whether a mother should be granted full custody of her kids. The statistics are quite positive, indicating that mothers are granted full custody in 71% of cases by the family law court. But there are some things you can do to increase your chances or at least ease things for you.
Seek a temporary custody order
You can seek a temporary custody order which could allow you custody during the settlement or litigation process until the final decision. The tip here is to apply quickly and stick to the terms and conditions of this special custody order. This strategy is often useful when there is more than enough proof that the other parent is not in a position to offer appropriate care for the child or children.
The temporary order is beneficial, especially during pending divorce cases. Indeed, some divorce proceedings can be protracted, and the temporary custody order comes of great help. A temporary custody order does not mean the other parent is alienated and permanently kept away from the children. During the period, the other parent has the right of contact and visitation. You may want to seek more clarification on this issue by having a free family law legal chat with experts.
Show credible evidence of domestic abuse, if any
While no mother wants to alienate her kids from a responsible parent, sometimes, it may be necessary to do so. For example, if your partner has a history of domestic abuse and there are records, you may have a valid case. The domestic abuse should have occurred in the period you were together or at any point in the relationship. You would have an increased chance of gaining full custody if those incidents were officially reported to the police.
The court will rely on police records and medical reports filed at the time to help your case. Employing this strategy requires credibility and the utmost truth. If you fake evidence of abuse or lie against the other partner, you risk losing the chance to have custody of the children. More importantly, the crime committed should be within the confines of the Domestic Abuse Act. The family law court frowns upon domestic abuse. Therefore, if that is your case, there is an increased chance of gaining full custody of your kids.
Communicate the child’s best interests to the court
Children are usually the most affected in divorce and separation cases. Sometimes, the court may want to award joint custody to the parents. However, you can communicate to the court why this is not in the child’s best interest. For example, it may not be in the child’s best interest if the other partner is known to be away for extended periods. You may need compelling evidence that the kids will be better off with you, and you can provide a safe home environment for them. Because joint custody involves equal rights of both parents, this can be a pretty tough one to argue out.
