How Does a Father Win Custody?
While the gender bias for women winning custody of their children may be closing, fathers still may feel that a jury tends to favor mothers during a custody trial. Whether that's true or not, there are many things that you can do as a dad to make your custody case a more surefire success.
Hire the Right Attorney
The first thing to do is find the right family lawyer. Someone who has a lot of experience specifically with custody cases is who you are looking for. They may double as your divorce law attorney as well, so see that they have experience with both (as they often do). You could look at their win rate for custody cases so that you're sure you stand a good chance with them representing you.
Get a Letter from Your Boss
A jury is looking for many different things when they evaluate your career. Of course, they want to see that you have the financial means to support a child. But they also want to know that your career is flexible enough to be there for your child when an emergency or other surprise comes up. In this regard, many women are seen as having more flexible careers and having employers who are more forgiving of them having to take time off work to be with their children. But, if you get a letter from your boss stating that your career with the company is stable and the company is supportive of your family interests, this looks great for the courtroom.
Be the Bigger Person
Another way that you can help your custody case along is by appearing as the level-headed and compassionate person that anyone would want their children to have as a father. One aspect of that is being collected in the courtroom. If you are angry about the situation, your lawyer might need to counsel you by doing mock interviews and asking you questions that might come up in the courtroom.
Another aspect of level headedness, though, is what you plan to do about visitation with the mother of your children. If you are open to joint custody, this is great. If you aren't, are you planning to have frequent visits for your children and their mother? This is an emotionally healthy thing for your children, and it shows that you have their best interest at heart. These strategies don't guarantee success in a custody battle, but they can certainly help tip the scales in your favor. For more information, contact a business such as Grafton Law Office.