You may be wondering how some recent well-known child custody cases were settled quite quickly. Many actually drag on for months or even years, or they end up at trial. If you want to avoid all this, consider some tips for speeding up the decision of who gets custody. You will find that the speed with which your case is decided depends largely on you and your spouse.
Respect Your Spouse’s Role as a Parent
You cannot act as both the mother and the father of your child, and studies show that kids do best when they have both parents. This is why you should refrain from trying to replace your spouse entirely, pushing him or her out of the picture. Your child needs, and probably even wants, both parents, which is why many divorced parents end up sharing joint custody. It is not that these people just get along well with their spouse, but they think of their children’s needs first, which compels them to at least try to co-parent successfully.
Don’t Try to Make Major Changes in the Current Situation
The best way to make your child custody plan work is to keep things the same as much as possible. If you currently work while your spouse stays home with the kids, do not try to flip this around so that you quit your job and stay home instead. Your kids need some consistency, especially during this tough time, so try to keep things the same.
If you are already separated and your spouse currently gets the children on weekdays, try to stick with this arrangement, or at least something similar. This gives you the best chance of having your parenting plan agreed to quickly. If you are not happy with the current arrangement, just start out with small changes if necessary, since gradual modifications are best for the children when changes have to take place.
Keep the Kids’ Best Interests at Heart
Keeping the children in mind when you make decisions should allow you to get through the process quickly. If you are tempted to stall or argue with your spouse, keep in mind that your kids are better served by parents who at least try to get along. It is also best for them to keep the divorce short and simple, so avoid any urges to drag out the custody battle just to make things difficult for your spouse.
Hiring a Brooklyn Child Custody Attorney
If you follow these tips, you should find that the child custody process will be over with sooner than you might think. You can then put it behind you, and work on helping your children move on from the divorce. If you need some help with your case, call Brian D. Perskin & Associates P.C. Together, our lawyers have more than 40 years of experience in this field, so we can help you with child custody and other aspects of your New York divorce.