There are a wide range of factors that may impact your child custody arrangement.

Castle Rock family law attorneys understand that for the most part, both parents do have their children’s best interests at heart, and the courts will seek to preserve the integrity of the children’s relationship with mother and father.

When two parents can work it out on their own – all the better…

However, sometimes former spouses are unable to mutually reach a fair agreement. Sometimes there are extenuating circumstances, such as abuse or when one parent lives out of state.

In these cases, it will be in the hands of the court to determine what is in the best interest of the child. In doing so, they are going to carefully scrutinize both parents – your criminal history, your income, your career, your new spouse, your location, your involvement in your child’s life.

It goes without saying that a parent who is drug-free, has a steady job and has been a positive presence in the child’s life stands a good chance of being awarded some form of custody or extensive visitation.

However, here are some things that may boost your case:

You dress appropriately for court: Generally, this involves a dark suit, a close-toed shoe and long-sleeved shirts. Failure to do so may have a distracting effect, and may call your judgement into question.

You remain calm and avoid emotional outbursts in court: Understandably, this is an emotional event. But a parent who yells or talks out of turn is going to leave a bad impression with the judge.

You are properly prepared: This means you are ready with all appropriate documentation, financial paperwork, school information, job history, etc. that may be come into question during a hearing. You will find that having an experienced family law attorney on your side will make a world of difference in this regard. Single parents generally have a lot on their plates as it is, and child custody can be a huge stress. It’s easy to overlook certain aspects. We ensure that doesn’t happen.

If you have any questions about your Castle Rock child custody case, we can help.