Divorced parents living in Virginia might find themselves involved in disputes with their ex-spouses regarding child custody and visitation issues. In an ideal world, people would be able to work out their differences and discover ways to co-parent without any conflict. However, there are situations where third parties, such as lawyers, mediators and even judges end up getting involved.
Since custody disputes can be expensive, time-consuming and stressful, many legal experts recommend trying to avoid them. Parents need to consider what is in the best interests of their children and create a plan that is sensitive to the needs of all parties. If the case does go to court, parents should be aware of appropriate strategies that can help them achieve successful results.
Parents that are embroiled in custody disputes after divorcing need to keep in mind that the court’s primary concern is the well-being of their children. Sometimes a person’s perspective on what is in his or her child’s best interest may not be the same as that of the judge. As a result, a parent should be prepared to show the judge that he or she is a responsible adult that is willing to work with both the court and his or her ex-spouse in ensuring that the children’s best interests are protected.
Practically speaking, this means that parents should be on time to court appearances and dressed appropriately. They should also be prepared for court hearings with documentation pertinent to their cases, such as financial receipts and correspondence with their former spouses. In many cases, an individual may benefit from speaking with an experienced family law attorney before going to court. A lawyer may be able to review his or her client’s case and make recommendations that can ease tensions, resolve disagreements and, when appropriate, prevent parents from having to go to court.