Things Your Lawyer Needs to Know about Your Child Custody Case

A child custody case is usually very overwhelming for a parent. However to ensure that you get the custody of your child, you should share all details with your lawyer and be honest with him.

Here is the list of the things that your lawyer must know about the case:

• Details of the child in question: Your lawyer must know the simple details about the child in issue. The lawyer will use these details to determine what type of investigation should be carried out to support your case. Your lawyer needs details such as your child’s day care, school, and day-to-day activities to determine the best approach to establish your case in the court.
• Detailed information about the opposing party or any caretaker: To establish the case in your support, you must provide sufficient details about the other parent or opposing party. The information helps the lawyer prepare a visitation schedule that he will propose in the court. The lawyer needs to know where the other parent lives, works, what type of work he or she does, and whether the other parent is living with any other children or adult or has married. The court is interested in knowing how the life of the child will affect or to whom the child is exposed.
• Addresses where the child lived in the past: For building a case in favor of your custody interests, your lawyer must know where the child has been residing over the last few years. If the child has relocated frequently and lacked stability in these years, your lawyer can use the information for building strategic arguments.
• Incidents of domestic violence: Your lawyer needs to know if you have been involved in any incidents of domestic violence or a case has been registered against you. The court is also interested in knowing whether the charges were levied by the other parent or were made on behalf of the child.
• Details of any other cases involving the child: Keep your lawyer informed about any other cases involving the child such as child support case, juvenile delinquency, or abuse or neglect case, as the court often combines the cases. These cases greatly affect your case, as the court looks at the facts and the situations of the parent and the child.
• Previous child support orders: Inform the lawyer about any child support orders that you received before and how you are dealing with it as he can help you renegotiate the order.

The child custody lawyer may ask you many questions to ensure that he or she can prepare an argument favoring you. Make sure you answer the questions truthfully so that your lawyer can help you get the custody of the child.