5 Mistakes to Avoid When Negotiating Child Custody

No matter how smoothly a divorce seems to go, the subject of child custody is almost always a harrowing one. Even spouses who are splitting amicably and get along every step of the way can butt heads when it comes to their children and how things will be handled concerning them for the foreseeable future. Parents who do not get along will have an even rougher time. The attorneys at Schill Law Group would hate to see things go badly, so we’ve compiled five mistakes that you should avoid when negotiating child custody.

Losing Your Temper

Working through a child custody battle can quickly get tempers to flare. Both parents love their children and want to spend as much time with them as they possibly can after a divorce has been finalized. This often means that emotions are right on the surface, just waiting to come out. However, this is when you must remain calm at all costs. Losing your temper can cause you to be viewed negatively as a parent, which can affect the outcome of the custody negotiations.

Putting Your Interests Above Those of the Child

Courts want to see that you care about your child above all else – and that includes you and your own interests. Every decision that you make should be in the best interest of the child. Many parents, for example, want to move away from the area in which they currently reside in order to “start fresh.” But uprooting your children can cause undue stress on your kids, so the proper strategy might be to stay in the same area following the divorce. The attorneys at Schill Law Group can help you with these types of decisions and how they will be viewed by the court.

Being Absent From Your Child’s Needs

We know you’re busy. We know you work hard. And we know that you love your children more than anything. Unfortunately, when you have a habit of inconsistencies or are constantly rescheduling appointments or meet-ups with your child, this sends a negative message and will hurt you during custody negotiations.

Refusing to Work with Your Former Spouse

This is not the time to be difficult and hard to work with. Courts will pick up on a spouse who is gritting their teeth through every part of the negotiation process and you could lose your foothold in your case very quickly. We suggest that you put the interest of the child above all else and prove to the court that you can work with your former spouse to care for your child in a positive and constructive way. After all, negativity helps no one and hurts everyone.

Flaunting a New Relationship

Regardless of what stage your divorce is in, there’s a good chance that you’ll want to move on sooner or later. However, the court can view flaunting a new relationship negatively, especially if it seems to take up too much of your time – time that you could be spending with your child. Plus, it could infuriate a scorned spouse and make him or her more unyielding on certain issues.

Are you planning a divorce and need someone on your side? Do you have questions related to divorce, child custody, or similar issues? Call the Schill Law Group to discuss your situation and the best way to move forward.