Child Custody Checklist
There are many items to think about and consider as you prepare to get involved, or re-involved, in any custody dispute. These are 17 items of things you want to consider.
- Make a list of the other person's weaknesses. The other person is usually your spouse or former spouse, but may be grandparents, foster parents, siblings, or even the State.
- Make a list of the other person's strengths. This is really important. It is too easy to concentrate on the other person's weaknesses and what they do wrong -- here we want you to list what they do right.
- Make a list of your strengths.
- Make a list of your weaknesses. Be brutally honest. Only you and your lawyer will see the list.
- List the strengths in your present position from the view of the judge: job, economics, help from parents, etc.
- List the strengths of the other person in his or her present position.
- Decide if you should be the first to initiate the suit.
- Decide if you should try to settle the case.
- Write out a Draft Custody Plan. List everything that you want as if you will be able to get everything that you want -- you won't get everything, but making this list is a good start.
- Make a list of the negotiable points in your Draft Custody Plan.
- Decide if you should start negotiating with the other person.
- Make a list of your bargaining chips.
- Decide if you should work out a temporary custody plan with the other person.
- Find out what criteria your family court looks at when awarding custody.
- Find out if your judge has specific prejudices (blond hair, women or men, successful women, athletic-looking men, etc.).
- Find out if the other person is using alienating strategies.
- If the other person is using alienating strategies, put into effect a plan to counteract these strategies.
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For more information regarding child custody and how we can help call Meredith D. Rucker, LLC at 251.626.7224 or email her today at info@ruckerlawfirm.com.
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