What are some of the worst mistakes a parent can make during a Louisville divorce and how will these affect child custody and visitation goals?
Are you a parent who is either considering or about to begin the process of a divorce? Are you seeking at least a share of child custody and visitation with your child(ren)? What mistakes should you work to avoid?
The worst mistake a parent can make during a Louisville divorce is to fail to take an active part in every aspect of your child’s life prior to and during the divorce. If you want to share time with your kids during and after the divorce you will need to share the responsibilities of taking them to and from day care or school, to outside activities and attend every event associated with each child if possible.
This covers everything from parent-teacher conferences to recitals, sporting events, dance class, music lessons, and every other interest in your child’s life.
Make sure you are spending as much quality time with each child as you can. Do you help to prepare a lunch and make sure their things are in order for school each morning? Are you helping them to study? Are you making the most out of each moment you get to spend with them? It is most important to spend time with each child and nurture a strong relationship prior to and throughout the divorce.
This is especially true if you believe custody and visitation discussions will be contentious. Parents who are too busy to spend time with their kids and those who do not participate in their daily life face accusations of disinterest and disengagement during child custody and visitation proceedings. The Judge will carefully consider the existing rhythms of each child’s life and the role each parent has been playing in every aspect of the child’s life up to and during the divorce.
Another of the worst mistakes a parent can make during a Louisville divorce is heated communications with their former spouse. The Judge will be carefully observing each party to establish their fitness as a parent as well as their ability to work with the other party as a co-parent.
Emotions often run high during a divorce. It is too easy these days to be drawn into a heated texting conversation or to fire off a scathing email or voicemail. You need to presume every conversation, every communication, every email, text and voicemail and every social media post (public or private) will be displayed in open court for all the world to hear or read (including your children in the future). How you handle yourself in Court and outside of Court can have a tremendous impact on the perception the Court may have on you as a parent.
Alcohol abuse, drug use, criminal activity and domestic violence are additional behaviors to completely avoid during a challenging divorce involving children. A DUI can very well impact your time with your child(ren). Heavy drinking, even on nights you don’t have the kids, can show up in social media and be used against your interests.
Kentucky child custody and parenting law is rooted in one core principle: the best interests of the child. If you are serious about sharing custody and visitation with a former spouse you will need to demonstrate your ability to put the needs of the child(ren) ahead of your own.
The Court will listen to your child and so should you. If you want to protect your child custody and visitation goals and objectives remain actively engaged and involved with your child’s life. Start every conversation and communication about custody and visitation with the question “what is best for (child’s name).” Keep communications calm, civil and professional. How you conduct yourself at all times, in and out of court, will have a substantial impact on the outcome of your case.
If you are concerned about past actions there is still time to implement new decisions. This is why it is so important to work with an experienced, proven divorce and family law attorney from Dodd & Dodd. We can help you to develop and implement a successful plan to accomplish your goals and objectives throughout the divorce and protect what is most important to you in the process.
We invite you to review the strong recommendations of our former clients and the legal industry and contact Dodd & Dodd or call 502-584-1108 to schedule an appointment with one of our attorneys.
