A flippant comment about wanting to “kill your ex” may be said in jest, but it is still effectively a death threat. Winning custody of a child is not always an easy task, especially because most courts prefer some form of shared or joint custody. Make sure that you are doing regular, everyday things—including homework and chores—and not just the fun things during your parenting time. Misuse alcohol or drugs. If you want to win custody, it’s important to honor every request and order the family court makes of you. Do something illegal. You can get a referral to a family law attorney by contacting your local or state bar association. If the other parent comes by to pick up the child for visitation and the child doesn’t want to go or is hesitant to go, assure them that they will have fun, it is important that they spend time with their other parent, and that you want them to enjoy this time with their other parent. Here is an overview of the things that will improve your chances of winning custody. What to Do to Win Child Custody in California [Child Custody Do’s], What Not to Do if You Want Child Custody in California [Child Custody Don’ts], How to Lose Custody of Child in California [Never Do These Things if You Want Custody], How to Lose Custody of Child in California [, The Best Child Custody Arrangements in California. If you’re going through a divorce and have children, you may be interested in knowing how to win a child custody case in California. The truth is that lawyers and the courts can, and often will, use what you post to prove or disprove claims. The lawyers at Talkov Law serve Los Angeles, San Diego, Long Beach, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Riverside, Irvine, Chula Vista, San Bernardino, Fontana, Moreno Valley, Santa Clarita, Glendale, Huntington Beach, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Oceanside, Garden Grove, Corona, Lancaster, Palmdale, Pomona, Escondido, Torrance, Pasadena, Orange, Fullerton, Victorville, Murrieta, El Monte, Carlsbad, Temecula, Costa Mesa, Downey, and Jurupa Valley, West Covina, Newport Beach, Chino Hills, Perris, Upland, Apple Valley, Redlands, Yorba Linda, Redondo Beach, Laguna Niguel, San Clemente, Eastvale, Encinitas, Diamond Bar, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, West Hollywood, Claremont, San Juan Capistrano, Beverly Hills, and elsewhere in California. There are a few missteps parents in a child custody case can make that severely threaten their chances of winning custody of their child. Parents who hope to win child custody should first become familiar with the … Never come up with unfounded allegations of abuse or exaggerate your co-parent’s shortcomings in order to win custody. Be as descriptive as you possibly can, even if the occurrence doesn’t seem all that important or relevant at the time. Don’t let your child create or pull you into unnecessary disagreements with your co-parent. Note when and if the other parent doesn’t show up for visitation, if they are late, or if they run late bringing your child back. Let your co-parent know about changes in your schedule, travel plans, plans to. This may seem obvious, but you would be surprised. The message you sent your ex when you first broke up calling them every name in the book for cheating on you can be used to prove you are verbally abusive. Make sure there is not even the suggestion that you are doing something that would put your child at risk. Can I Modify My Custody Arrangement Without Going to Court? In fact, teaching your children that material things are not so important is a good lesson for them to learn. Ideally, you want to do this long before your child custody case so that you can show a positive pattern of behavior. Ultimate Guide to HOA Disputes for Homeowners, Ordinary Course of Business Transfers – Preference Defense in Bankruptcy. If you only see your child every other weekend, it can be easy to spend all of your time with them doing fun things, eating junk food, and doing all the things that make your child happy. Whether reaching a child custody agreement is your goal, or you want a knowledgeable child custody lawyer to fight for you, contact the attorneys at Talkov Law for help. Emergency Child Custody Orders in California. For these reasons, you should hire a lawyer to represent you. Repeatedly rescheduling your parenting time could make it appear to the court that your schedule is more important than your parenting time or your child’s time. That picture of you and your friends drinking at a local bar may be five years old, but it can also be used to prove you are an alcoholic. If you are court-ordered, or have agreed, to pick up your child or visit him/her at a specific time, always arrive on time. They are seeking love and approval, and want to feel like they “passed” your quiz when you question them about their time with the other parent. Does it Matter Who Files For Divorce First in California? The extra cost may seem steep now, but it will pay off later by keeping your child, and your reputation, safe. Make your home their home. Don’t pawn off this task on your child. It is not your child’s job or responsibility to create their own schedule. Tell us how we can be of service and one of our team members will contact you. Work with your co-parent. Volunteer at their school, go to all of their recitals, and just generally be present. The majority of these cases pass smoothly without any issues because parents already have a mutual understanding. Here is a brief overview of some of those fatal errors: Finally, don’t feel like you have to handle this yourself. Never complain about money in front of the child. All children do this whether their parents live together or not. Don’t allow yourself to be tempted to leave your children alone (or even under the care of a pre-teen sitter) for any length of time. As hard as it might be, don’t talk negatively about your co-parent—especially to your child. Here is an overview of things you should try to avoid doing while trying to win custody. Children must have a bedroom with adequate bedroom furnishings, bedding, and clothing. Regardless of the reasons why you are seeking custody arrangements, your first and most important step should always be to contact a family law attorney with experience in child custody matters. Never talk (or let someone else talk) about. It is best that you not allow your children to arrange their own visitations. Talkov Law is one of California's preeminent law firms for real estate, business, bankruptcy, family law, and trusts and probate litigation, disputes, trials and appeals. Assure the other parent that in the future you will do the best you can schedule appointments for that time. An experienced family law attorney at Talkov Law has the knowledge to help you reach a resolution of your custody and visitation legal issues. If you send it, the judge may read it. Don’t arrive late for visits or exchanges. If you have been accused of being neglectful or keeping your child in unsafe living conditions, now is the time to eliminate any problems. The law defines a safe and secure home as being stable, clean, and free from potential risks to the child’s safety. Even when parents split amicably, having a court order that sets out each person’s rights and responsibilities to the child can help parents work together in the best interests of their child. This is essentially just basic. If you have visitation, be sure that you make every visitation meeting. © 2009-2020 Talkov Law Corp., a California professional corporation. Or, a guardian might put the child at risk in some other way (e.g., being unable to provide safe living conditions, such as food or shelter). Ideally, provide your child with a separate space (a room or portion of a room), so that he/she feels at home in both places they live. For this reason, the information you gain from these questions is not even reliable, so it is best not to engage in the questioning at all. In California, the court want both parents actively involved in their children’s lives after divorce and will make every attempt to approve a parenting plan that facilitates that. Don’t do or allow anything that might otherwise be misconstrued as unsafe, unnecessarily risky, or otherwise problematic – such as allowing sleepovers during the week or drinking beer at home. These files will make it easier for both the court and your lawyer to understand the real situation.