If you are filing for divorce, one of the most important aspects is likely going to be your child custody and co-parenting agreement. Along with dividing your community property, this facet of a divorce is usually the most stressful for the spouses.
Parental alienation claims and their impact on custody cases
When parents in California are going through a child custody process, there are many possible outcomes. While some cases are amicable and the parents can easily agree to shared parenting plans and custody, other cases might be more complex. One type of case that can have serious consequences for the family is one where one parent claims parental alienation against the other parent, especially when the other parent has claimed that there is abuse involved.
Tips for parents raising kids after a divorce
California parents who choose to get divorced will need to ensure that they are able to effectively raise their children together. Ideally, they will be able to communicate directly with each other instead of using their kids as messengers. Parents can choose to communicate with each other during face-to-face meetings or through electronic means such as text messages or email. Sending emails or texts may be ideal because it allows a person to document his or her effort to raise an issue or resolve a dispute amicably.
How to use information from a calendar in divorce
During a divorce in California, one of the difficult tasks for parents may be trying to reconstruct a schedule and list of expenses for their children. This is necessary in order to determine child support, but under the stress of divorce, parents may struggle to remember all the facts they need for this process. A calendar from the past year can help.
International custody disputes and parental abduction
In California and across the country, most kidnappings of children involve not hardened criminals or ransom demands but instead one parent keeping the other from child custody or visitation. When a non-custodial parent takes a child without permission inside the United States, the situation can already be complex and volatile. This may be compounded if an international relationship is involved. In an increasingly global world, many people have partners who have multiple nationalities or primary citizenship outside the United States. People may even enter a relationship or have children while living away from home on a work assignment or educational program.
How to deal with toxic parents
Trying to raise a child with a toxic former spouse may be difficult for parents in California and elsewhere. However, there are a variety of strategies that a person may use to make doing so easier. For instance, it is important to accept that no one can force the child's other parent to change his or her ways. All a parent can do is change how he or she handles a given situation.
Gender bias in custody cases
When parents in California divorce, one major consideration is child custody. If there is conflict over where the kids should live, parents may seek mediation or other efforts to come to an agreement. When these efforts fail, the courts may have to determine what is in the best interests of the children. Many people believe that the courts are unfairly biased against fathers in custody cases.
How approaches to custody have changed over the years
When parents in California get a divorce, they may need to reach an agreement on child custody. It is increasingly common for parents to use mediation to create this agreement instead of going to court. A custody agreement addresses both legal and physical custody. The former refers to which parent will have the right to make decisions about the child's health care, education, religion and other major issues. The latter is about where the child will live.
Good records can lead to custody rights
The right documentation can help a California parent win custody of his or her children. For instance, phone call logs can help a noncustodial parent show that there was an effort made to stay in touch with a son or daughter. Alternatively, a noncustodial parent could use phone or similar records to allege that the custodial parent made it difficult or impossible to contact the child. Phone records should indicate how often calls were made and how long they lasted.
Effective co-parenting strategies for divorcing couples
Divorce could be confusing for children, even when their parents reinforce the fact that the decision had nothing to do with them. Following the separation, children often have to spend time with their parents in two separate households. Although it might be challenging for California parents to put their ill feelings for a former spouse aside in the interests of their children, there may be great rewards in store for those who can accomplish it.
