Child-Custody Hearing Process [What to Expect]
11/20/2018
Child-custody hearings tend to be less antagonistic compared to other types of court cases. Parents seeking to win custody should know what to expect in advance so that they can best be prepared for each step of the process. Your case will be presented in front of a judge, and he or she will likely make an immediate decision.
During a child-custody hearing, be prepared to show the court your entire situation as the judge will be looking at many factors impact the child custody arrangement, such as:
- Parents, relatives, friends, and associates of the child’s parent
- Driving history
- Criminal records
- Evidence of alcohol or drug abuse
- Evidence of child abuse or neglect, as well as unfounded claims of abuse/neglect
- Finance's of each parent
- Parents profession or lack there of
- History or complaints of violence against a parent
- Residence of each parent
- Health
- Lifestyle
- Hobbies
The judge must be convinced that one parent is better fit to take care of the child than the other parent; this can often be difficult to prove. Courts will often investigate how each of the parents encourages the child to act with the other parent. This can greatly swing the decision of some judges if there is hard evidence of coaching a child to hate the other parent or leading them to believe the other parent is bad or unfit.
Going to a child custody hearing can be scary, but with a little advanced planning, understating the child custody laws within your state, and working closely with your lawyer, you can present a convincing case and win child custody.
For more information, or to get a customized detailed explanation on how to handle your case please contact us today.