For parents who are in the process of a divorce, determining child custody can often be the most critical part of the process. Even in otherwise amicable divorces, matters pertaining to custody can be very stressful. At Oxendine Law, our attorneys have been helping clients with custody disputes for many years and have considerable expertise on all issues related to custody and parenting time. Below we’ll provide a few tips that anyone should consider when custody is at issue in a divorce.

• Fully understand the different types of child custody. There is a difference between physical and legal custody. Physical custody refers to when and how often a child lives with each parent in their respective homes. Legal custody refers to the right of each parent to access the child’s medical, educational, and other records, the right to act in the role as a parent or guardian of the child, and dictates which parent makes final or tie-breaking decisions on behalf of their child regarding education, healthcare, extracurricular activities and religious decisions.
• Present your best self in court. This means treating the other parent with respect and courtesy, even if this is hard. All judges look to see if parents are willing to promote and encourage a strong and healthy relationship between the child and the other parent. Failing to do so can create a negative impression with the court that can be detrimental to your case. Be aware that this can also include comments made through social media, emails, texts and other personal communications.
• Be prepared and stay organized. Any resources that will benefit your case should be easily accessible and ready to share with the court when needed. This includes photos, emails, logs of you and your child’s schedule and daily activities, records related to the child’s school and medical providers, and more.

It’s important to remember that every case is different and what applies to one couple’s divorce may have nothing to do with the next. However, we feel keeping these tips in mind can be highly beneficial. Listen to this recent episode of the Oxendine Law Podcast to hear our attorneys Jarrod and Christine provide a few more helpful tips:

https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/5ZY7fUsWzDC4cl36JwPDn1?utm_source=generator

If you have any needs of your own regarding family law matters like divorce or child custody, contact Oxendine Law at (770) 497-8688 today to schedule a family law consultation in-person, over the phone, or by video conference. Don’t forget to follow along with us on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram for additional family law tips, news, radio segments, and more.