Legal Tips and Resources
An attorney recommends parents get some level of legal assistance when preparing for their child custody hearing. By preparing yourself with support from a legal professional, you can find out information about state laws, what documents you must bring to the hearing, and how to present yourself in the best way possible. Here we have gone into further detail about the ways an attorney can help you prepare for your very important child custody hearing. For more information, don’t hesitate to call our office to have your questions answered.
An Attorney Can Familiarize You With State Laws
Having someone who is knowledgeable in the world of family law can be immensely helpful when getting ready for a child custody hearing. Doing your own research too can be beneficial, but an attorney may suggest printing out any laws you read about and bringing it to a consult, so we can ensure they are being interpreted correctly. Laws can be wordy and confusing.
An Attorney Can Offer Advice On How to Show You Are a Great Parent
It is important that you show yourself as a responsible parent prior to and before the child custody hearing. If you attend the hearing but haven’t done much to support your child in the weeks or months prior, that may be noticed by the judge. It is key that you do what you can to prove why you are the better caregiver over the other parent. If you can present the reasons why you are the more fit parent while still remaining respectful to the other parent, this can speak volumes to the judge.
An Attorney Can Give You a List of Documentation to Gather
Never show up to a child custody hearing unprepared. Chances are that the judge is going to ask for copies of several types of documentation, including your earnings, proposed parenting schedule, and other financial paperwork. An attorney can give you a list of helpful documents to obtain to ensure you aren’t empty-handed in the courtroom.
An Attorney Can Inform You About Emotions and Court Etiquette
Even the thought of battling over custody of your children can stir up many different emotions, including anger, resentment, fear, and anxiety. It is natural to have these emotions come up, especially once you are in the courtroom and see the other parent. However, it is so influential to the outcome of the hearing if you can be cool, calm, collected, and respectful the entire time. The judge already knows how agonizing this is probably going to be for you, but it won’t help to get caught up in emotions and have an outburst in the courtroom.