December 15, 2022, In Child Custody
Our Los Angeles family law attorney at WHITMARSH FAMILY LAW, PC knows the complete challenges that come with getting divorced in California. For some, the proceedings become increasingly complex when they share minor children.
Our Los Angeles child custody attorney knows the California family law courts favor joint legal and physical child custody. However, they will make judgments primarily based on what is in the best interest of your child. Unfortunately, it only takes a few poor decisions to put one parent at an extreme disadvantage in gaining shared custody of their kids.
Here are a few common mistakes to avoid.
Refusing to Cooperate with Your Former Spouse
Our Los Angeles divorce attorney knows that you and your spouse are dissolving your marriage for a reason. Possibly even multiple reasons. This often leads to a significant rift in communication, fostered by the negativity you were hoping to leave behind. The reality is, when you share children, you must put your personal feelings aside and focus on the best interests of your kids.
Failing to reasonably communicate with the other parent will make you appear uncooperative and unwilling to put their kids’ needs above your primary focus of hurting the other parent.
Withholding Visitation During the Proceedings
The California family courts will rarely disallow one parent from seeing their children. If you take it upon yourself to keep your kids away from the other parent during the proceedings, without a legally acceptable reason — like drug or alcohol use, neglect, abuse, or a court order — the court will frown on your decision making, which may tip the child custody scales in the opposite direction.
Fighting or Negatively Talking About the Other Parent in Front of the Children
Our Los Angeles County family law attorney knows that you may have a lot of emotions to work through during the divorce. However, this is not the time to fight with, or talk badly about, your former spouse in front of your children. The courts expect both parents to provide a supportive environment for their children and find negativity to be toxic.
Allowing Your Divorce Proceedings to Play Out Over Social Media
Just because your kids are not on Facebook doesn’t mean you should use the social media platform to condemn the other parent. Venting your frustrations to receive support from friends and family can have a negative impact inside the courtroom. Even when you believe your settings may be private, your spouse’s divorce attorney will find multiple ways to record screenshots of your hostility — then use it against you inside the courtroom.
Failing to Contact an Experienced Los Angeles Family Law Attorney
One of the biggest mistakes parents make during their child custody case is failing to partner with a skilled family law attorney who can protect their rights and customize their legal strategy to align with their goals.
Contact our skilled family law attorneys in Los Angeles County at WHITMARSH FAMILY LAW, PC by calling (310) 552-3505 to schedule a free consultation today.
We can help provide solutions that produce results.
