What Parents Need to Know in Child Custody Cases

• Wednesday, June 27, 2012 by The Eyewitness

When dealing with child custody issues you as a parent need to educate yourself and become as prepared as possible. This includes keeping the welfare of your child in mind, addressing his or her concerns and pursuing what’s right for your child, even if that’s joint custody. You can get what is called a Custody Evaluation, which evaluates the fitness of both parents, but make sure that you and your attorney are comfortable with that evaluator's unbiased expertise and training. Be prepared to have the evaluation examined by a professional in family law if the evaluation doesn’t have the results that you were counting on.

Another way to prepare yourself in a child custody case is finding out who your child will spend time with. As a parent it’s important to know who your child’s being exposed to, and sometimes hiring a private investigator is necessary if you feel that certain information is being withheld regarding your child’s welfare. Hiring an investigator isn’t a bad thing; it means that you’re committed to doing what's best for your child. In a custody case you owe it to yourself and your child to learn everything you can about the environment he or she spends time in.

Whether you and your partner agree to sole child custody or joint custody, educating yourself and being prepared will help ensure a positive and healthy outcome for your child. In the end that’s what matters.