What are the custody rules that govern a mother's child custody rights? It is important for a mother to know the laws and regulations about her custody rights so that she can get a fair custody arrangement for her child.
Here are some of the important things to know about mothers and child custody.
1.
Both parents have equal claim to the children.
Don't assume that since you are the mother that you will be granted custody.
The courts today recognize the importance of both parents being involved in the children's lives and they work for agreements that allow that.
In many states, the default parenting plan is joint custody.
This also means that you need to be prepared and proactive in your custody case.
Don't count on getting time with your child--you need to work with the other parent and if necessary prepare to go to court.
2.
The court makes custody decisions based on the child's best interest.
This is the number rule that mothers should remember about custody.
The court looks for the child's interest first and the parent's interests after that.
You should also look out for your child and try to create an agreement that is the best for them.
Do not use your custody situation as a way to seek revenge on the father of the child.
As hard as it may be, you need to put aside personal feelings about the father and come up with something for the child.
3.
If you can't work out something with the father, you will need to go to court.
The best arrangements are the ones that parents figure out together.
Try to work with the father to create a parenting plan.
If you have trouble talking together, consider going to mediation.
If both of you make a good faith effort to create an agreement, it will happen.
However, if the father is unreasonable, you shouldn't cater to his demands.
Think about hiring an attorney and prepare to go to custody court.
Prepare a case that shows why your custody agreement is best for the child and show documentation to prove it.
These are just some of the rules that govern the child custody process.
Mothers can more fully obtain their custody rights if they understand these rules and work within them.
By doing this, you should be able to get the time you want with your child.