Dads face a number of unique challenges during child custody disputes. One of the reasons the custody process is more difficult for fathers is that gender stereotypes persist in custody decisions. If you are a father seeking child custody, consider the following custody advice to make sure that your parental rights are protected.

Pay Attention to Details

No matter if you are seeking joint or sole custody, it is important to remain invested in your child’s life. One of the best ways to show that you are engaged in your child’s life is know the details about your child’s life, whether they pertain to school, after-school activities, friends’ names, social activities, etc.

Avoid Confiding in Your Child

Divorce is an emotionally challenging time, and it is common to find yourself desperate for someone who will listen to you. No matter how difficult your divorce gets, however, it is important to avoid sharing details about the end of your marriage with your child.

In many cases, speaking negatively about the child’s other parent can result in alienation, which can negatively impact the child and your chances at custody. Instead, it is a much better idea to speak about a divorce with a trusted friend or mental health professional.

Remain Civil to the Other Spouse

When a marriage ends, it is difficult to avoid experiencing difficult feelings toward your ex-spouse. Despite how you might feel about your former spouse, try to keep communication positive and work together for the benefit of your child. It is often in your best interest to effectively communicate with your former spouse, as well.

Keep Lots of Notes

Many people benefit from keeping a journal during the divorce process that includes important people and events as well as any negative behaviors your former spouse might have engaged in that could harm the child. Parents who fail to keep an adequate amount of information during a case can end up jeopardizing a case’s outcome.

Use Social Media Sparingly, if at all

One of the best steps that you can take while navigating a child custody case is to refrain from using social media. While you might prefer to keep your social media accounts active during this time, doing so comes with a number of potential downsides.

You should remain cautious during this time about anything that you might post on social media because it is easy for someone to gain the wrong impression about you and for you to subsequently damage your bid for custody.

Retain the Assistance of an Experienced Family Law Attorney

The most important piece of advice that a person can follow to successfully navigate a child custody case is to obtain the help of an experienced family law attorney. Find a lawyer who understands the unique challenges faced by fathers in family law.
At Vayman & Teitelbaum P.C., we are dedicated to providing the strongest legal representation possible to help people successfully navigate the divorce process.