Parents in California generally want a relationship with their children after a divorce. While some do try to avoid their responsibilities, this is far from the norm. These days, the ccourts generally give each parent an equal opportunity to obtain custody of their child, but parents may need to be ready to assert those rights. One way to increase the odds of obtaining custody is to keep good records.
For instance, it may be worthwhile to document how much time was spent with the child or how much money was spent to support the child. This may be helpful because it is possible for a case to devolve into “he said-she said”, which may or may not accurately represent a parent’s ability to care for a child. Parents should also be ready to show that a positive relationship exists with their children.
A judge is less likely to award custody to a parent if there are signs of a strained relationship. It is also a good idea to avoid anything that may strain relationships with the child’s other parent. This may include criticizing or being physical with that parent, starting a relationship with another person or taking the child without a good reason to do so.
Parents who are in a child custody dispute may be best served by not letting their emotions get the best of them. In many cases, it may be better to focus on being there for the child and not getting into arguments with the other parent. This may make it easier to show a court that an individual is focused on being a good parent and will do whatever it takes to make sure that the best interest of the child is a top priority.