Custody battles are an unfortunate reality for many divorces. During these proceedings, things can quickly turn hostile and emotionally-charged. While we understand the difficult nature of these situations, the importance of staying calm cannot be understated. 

When people get defensive or feel emotional, it can be easy to overlook the big picture and make key mistakes that could come back to hurt your cause. Today, we’re sharing some tips to help you better prepare for your upcoming custody battle.

Remain Proactive and Involved in your Child’s Life

Don’t lose focus of the big picture: custody disputes center on who can best care and provide for the child and his/her best interests. To that end, make sure you’re present and involved in your child’s life. Take time to track these efforts, whether just regular daily engagements or when fulfilling your parental duties for a special occasion. The more evidence that you gather, the easier it will be for you to demonstrate your ability to fulfill parental responsibilities.

Collect Evidence such as Texts, Social Media Posts, and Documents

Along these same lines, you’ll also want to start gathering any intel or evidence that could demonstrate how the other parent’s behavior places your child at risk. You don’t want to stretch the truth here in order to deliberately make him/her look worse, but you do want to make sure the court is aware of any and all variables that directly relate to the best interests of the child. 

Gather Support via Witnesses

Another important way to prep for your custody case is to start gathering support from people who are familiar with your situation and know your family. These can include people such as neighbors, extended relatives, teachers, medical professionals, and other types of acquaintances. The more you give the courts to work with, the more they are able to piece a comprehensive picture of your strengths as a parent. 

Hire a Skilled CA Family Law Attorney

By far the most important way to prepare for a custody case in CA is to recruit the assistance of a qualified legal professional. Custody disputes are legal proceedings that adhere to the complex family law code in CA. 

Our seasoned attorneys at the White Oak Law have the experience and the know-how to help you handle any type of family law issue in CA. Give us a call at (949) 825-5245 to learn more about what we do.