Organization is Key to Custody Battles

Suffering through a divorce and subsequent custody battle can be very stressful.   The emotional burden that tends to accompany these situations can interfere with your priorities and thought process.  This is why so many people fail to properly track the information related to child custody.  Unfortunately, a lack of organization can greatly affect your chances at winning custody.

By focusing on tracking the appropriate data, you can improve your standing in the eyes of the court and save money by cutting down on the time you need to spend with your lawyer.  Here are some quick tips to help you get organized before your custody hearing.

Log Your Visitation
A divorce can be finalized well before the child custody parameters are determined.  This means that you are likely living in a different residence than your ex.  It is during this time that you should be tracking every hour you are spending with your kids.  If you currently have primary custody, then you should also track the amount of time your ex has spent with the children.  Keeping an accurate log will prevent your ex from making false claims against you.  It will also prove to the court that you place a premium on the time you have with your children.

Organize Your Financials
One of the key considerations in custody hearings is proof of financial stability.  You should be able to provide accurate evidence of your salary, benefits, and savings (including retirement).  You will be expected to have documented proof of your claims, so make sure you are saving your most recent pay stubs and bank statements.  If you do not currently have a job, then you will need to prove to the court that you either have a strategy to secure one, or that you have other means of supporting the children financially.

Track Your Child’s Costs
An often overlooked set of helpful data is the average cost of supporting your children on a day-to-day basis.  This figure is usually much higher than you would guesstimate.  Remember to include food, clothes, day care, gas, health insurance, and any additional everyday costs.  If you are awarded custody, this data will be significant in determining the amount of child support your spouse will be ordered to pay.

By documenting visitation time, financial records, and child care costs, you will be able to build a much stronger case in your custody hearing.  The goal is to prove that you are able to provide a solid foundation for children to grow and be successful.  Another advantage to tracking this data is that you will eliminate some of the time your lawyer needs to prepare the case.  This will ultimately save you money on legal fees.

Preparing for your custody hearing requires strategy and organization.  Visit our home page for expert resources that will help you win your child custody case.