It can be difficult for you to go through a custody case on your own. It is more likely that you will seek professional help to get through the case. It helps a lot if you talk to a child custody lawyer.
This kind of lawyer is a family law lawyer whose specialization is child custody. In numerous cases, by working with the child’s interest in mind; parents may reach an agreement without going to court. There are times though when one parent’s idea of what’s best for their children is not the same as the other one. So when do you know if it is time for you to hire a custody attorney? Here are some situations:
You or the Children Were Abused
If there’s a recent complaint of abuse or domestic violence, handling the negotiations on your own without any lawyer’s mediation might not lead you to your preferred outcome. If you cannot afford to hire a good lawyer, you can be provided one from a local aid group. In the majority of states, legal aid organizations have resources reserved for cases that involve children particularly those who experienced abuse.
Your Spouse Has a Lawyer
Once the other parent hires a lawyer, an imbalance of power in negotiation occurs. Lawyers are known for their skills in state custody laws and can advocate what’s best for their client which is difficult to do for anyone who has no professional training. A child custody lawyer is also knowledgeable of the court’s procedures along with the past rulings or orders of the judge in similar cases.
When You Have Some Personal Issues in the Past
A fight for child custody might end up bloody at times. To sway the decision, it is possible for the other parent to bring up some past personal issues you have such as a history of drug or alcohol abuse, previous convictions, and a record of previous arrests. A custody attorney will be able to help lay down the reasons why these should not affect the court’s decision.
When the Other Parent’s Attitude Gets Worse
When the other parent’s attitude towards negotiations for custody suddenly gets worse, it would be best to hire a custody lawyer. Some red flags are failing to return calls or reply to emails and creating excuses of why a scheduled visit is not possible, or simply a general indifference to considering what could be for the children’s best interest. These are signs that you need to start looking for a custody attorney.
