A custody hearing is a very stressful time for everyone involved, including the child, and it can be very important to have the right legal representation. The court will consider the best interest of the child in determining who is the better parent, so it is important to have an experienced attorney who will be able to give you honest advice about the best course of action. At the same time, you will need to present the facts of the case in a way that is most advantageous to your case.
Here are some tips for how to prepare for a child custody hearing:
Talk to an attorney
Talk to a family law attorney before the custody hearing to get advice on how to best prepare for the hearing and what steps you need to take. The lawyer may be able to give you advice on things you can do in the weeks before the hearing, and the lawyer can also help you to prepare for the hearing and help you to protect yourself from what can happen. The lawyer can also help you to make sure you have the right paperwork to prepare for the hearing, and you should also talk to an experienced custody attorney about what you can do to protect yourself from a custody hearing, so that you don’t end up losing custody of your child.
Do some research
You should look into the history of the other parent’s custody decisions. If you can, find out what happened in previous custody hearings, and see what the courts have ruled. Also find out what decisions were made by the court when you were divorced, and look into any of the other custody decisions in the past. This will help you to know what to expect during the hearing and what the judge may be looking for. If you want more details https://bitman-law.com/orlando-family-law/child-custody/.
Get your documents ready
You will need to gather all the documents you will need to present during the custody hearing, and make sure you have the right paperwork to present. You will need to have the following:
Your birth certificate
Your marriage certificate
Proof of your divorce
Any custody agreements that you have with the other parent
Proof that you are the parent of the child
Proof that you have been paying child support, and if you are not currently paying child support, that you will be able to pay. Any medical documentation that is important to your case.