As a father, you may have concerns about seeking custody. In past decades, it was more common to see mothers receive custody. Now, you’re worried about bias against you as a father when it’s your turn in court.
While bias against fathers is no longer a massive concern, it can be subconscious. Fortunately, you can mitigate it. There are steps you can take to make yourself more appealing to the court and to present yourself as the responsible, respectful parent that you are.
Proving that you’re a great father is the right step moving forward. Some things you can do to prove it include:
- Getting witness statements describing how you parent or seeing you parent your children in different circumstances. For example, you could submit a letter from your child’s teacher discussing that you attend conferences or play an active role in your child’s education.
- Come to court dressed for success. Coming in looking clean and professional shows your respect for the court and the proceedings.
- Be respectful during the hearing. Speak when spoken to and allow your attorney to speak out if they need to interrupt. You should always address the judge politely.
- Know your child. When you come to court, be prepared to answer questions about your child. You should know things like their doctors’ names, teachers’ names, medical conditions, food preferences and other facts about them.
- Show the judge that you’re prepared to take on custody. Have your child’s room set up in your home or show how you’ve prepared for them to stay with you in the future.
If you can do all of these things, you’ll be in a great position to seek the custody schedule you want. An experienced attorney can also offer valuable guidance.
