Getting divorced is one of life’s most stressful events, and if you have children to consider in the equation, things get a lot more complicated. Of course, you want what’s best for your kids and don’t want them to see you fighting your soon to be ex, but at the same time, you want to ensure you get custody arrangements that work for you both. Here’s how you can sort out custody with minimal stress.
Try to work things out between yourself
If you have a good relationship with your ex and think you can keep things civil, then you may be able to come up with your own plan for custody. This can work well if you both work full-time and need to support each other, and can work out the best way to juggle childcare with a 50/50 split.
Even if things are amicable, it’s worth getting the arrangements written down and signed, making a parenting agreement so that you both know where you are. That way, if things get difficult in future, you have something to refer back to.
Getting legal help during a divorce
Because divorces are often messy and difficult, it’s not always the case that both parties can be mature and come to an arrangement. In this case, it’s worth consulting with family lawyers Adelaide to discuss your options. In some cases, a simple process such as mediation may help you come to an agreement, otherwise, you may need to take it to court, especially if you feel it’s in the best interests of the child to spend more time with you.
A family lawyer will be on your side, helping you through the process and advising on the best steps to take. This can help a lot during this very stressful time.
Drawing up a legal custody agreement
If things go to court, then both parties’ legal teams will need to argue their case, and an agreement will be drawn up for:
- Who’ll have physical custody
- Visitation rights
- How important decisions will be handled
- Guidelines for caring for the child
- What happens if things need to be changed or updated
If there are certain areas where you and your spouse disagree, perhaps for religious or cultural reasons, then it may be best to get something drawn up legally as it’ll help you make big decisions such as how your child will be educated.
This also means that if things go wrong down the line, perhaps if your ex is known for being unreliable or causing issues, you can go back to court to get the arrangements reviewed. In some cases, your ex can get into legal trouble if they fail to follow these arrangements.
Custody is an emotional topic, because everyone wants what is best for their child, and most parents think that the kids will be best off with them. However, it’s important that the child’s best interests are at the heart of every choice that is made and so in many cases, legal help is needed to ensure a fair outcome for everyone.