Child custody disputes can happen even if you have a relatively amicable relationship with your former partner. For instance, you may not like the fact that the child’s other parent wants to relocate outside of Colorado or keep your son or daughter for Christmas again this year. Let’s take a look at some of the steps that you can take to obtain a favorable outcome in such a dispute.
Document everything
You should document all the attempts that you’ve made to call, visit or otherwise interact with your son or daughter. Doing so will help to counter any claims by your former partner that you have neglected or abandoned your child. It’s also a good idea to keep records of any money that was spent in support of your son or daughter.
This will show that you are acting in good faith to abide by the terms of an existing parenting plan. Finally, the parenting plan itself may be used during a court hearing to improve your chances of obtaining a favorable outcome in a child custody dispute.
Remain civil at all times
It’s critical to remain civil toward your child’s other parent throughout the dispute resolution process. This means that you shouldn’t say anything that could be considered rude or condescending to that person. Furthermore, you should refrain from making inflammatory statements to your child, on social media or anywhere else.
It’s especially important to be calm, composed and polite during mediation sessions or while in front of a judge. If you yell, scream or otherwise act in an immature manner, your actions may be used to justify a ruling in favor of your former spouse or partner.
If you are involved in a child custody disagreement, you generally have many options available to preserve your rights. In some cases, a dispute may be resolved through a simple conversation with your former partner. However, if necessary, it may be possible to obtain a formal ruling from a family court judge.