3 Mistakes to Avoid in your Custody Case - Legal Lotus, Miami Trial & Family Lawyers
Legal Lotus, Miami Trial & Family Lawyers Here are the top 3 mistakes we frequently encounter in family law cases involving minor children, and what you can do to avoid them: 1. Not allowing the other parent to see the child: Not allowing the other parent to see their child is a big mistake. Courts want parents to facilitate an ongoing loving relationship between the child and the other parent. Ideally, children need two parents. Courts recognize this. Withholding the child from one parent typically happens in paternity cases. Paternity cases involve parents who have a minor child and were never married. Even if the father is on the birth certificate, it does not mean that he is entitled to certain rights when it comes to the child. In fact, the father is not entitled to a time-sharing schedule with the other parent unless he files a paternity action. Issues typically arise when the parents separate and one parent enters a new relationship. For example, let’s say a mom has a child with dad. Mom and dad were never married, and break up. Dad later enters a new relationship. When mom finds out, and she does not want the child to contact their father anymore. The father will then have a hard time seeing the child, unless he files a paternity action and request time-sharing. There are different reasons a parent may give for withholding the child from the other parent. Reasons could be triggered by personal emotions like anger and jealousy. If it’s not in the best interest of the child, then it’s not a good reason. However, issues like domestic violence by one parent (physical or verbal) to the child and/or the other parent in front of the child is a good reason to withhold the visitation. Remember, the Court’s decision is governed by the best interest of the child. 2. Badmouthing the other parent in front of their child: This is very common and also very easy to avoid. Badmouthing the other parent in front of a child is a huge mistake and causes harm to the child. We should always remember that kids see their parents as a superhero. Badmouthing the other parent in front of the child normalizes this behavior and sets an example for the child. A child is a reflection of their parents, so, don’t teach them to disrespect other people. More so, badmouthing one #parent can also be used against you in #Court. If you believe the other parent is badmouthing you to your child, you can bring it up in Court. You can also request the Court to limit communication between the parents to a co-parenting app, such as My Family Wizard or Talking Parents. These apps store all communications between the parents, and is accessible to the Courts for their review. From experience, when one parent badmouths the other parent in front of the child, they will also badmouth that parent on these apps. 3. Not being involved in the minor child’s life: This is easily preventable. If you are fighting for custody/time with your kids, then you should heavily be involved in their lives. This includes knowing the names of the child’s best friends, teachers, and doctors. Parents should know the child’s likes/dislikes, passions and interests. Of course, there are exceptions to this. Cases concerning minor children can be the most difficult. But that does not give parents a reason to act contrary to the child’s best interest. Chapters: 00:00 Topic Introduction 0:26 Common mistake 1: parent not letting other parent see the child. 3:05 Common mistake 2: talking negatively about one parent to the child. 4:41 Common mistake 3: not being involved in the child's life. 5:55 Closing statements. For more information on this topic, check out this blog post:https://wordpress.com/post/legallotus... For more information: Check out and subscribe to our YouTube Channel: / annafernandezesq Check out our blog at http://www.legallotus.com Follow us on Instagram at / legallotus Like us on Facebook at / legallotus Visit our website at http://www.legallotus.legal Shop our Legal Templates at https://www.etsy.com/shop/LegalLotusF... No Attorney-Client Relationship or Legal Advice: Communication of information by, in, to or through this video and webpage and your receipt or use of it: (1) is not provided in the course of and does not create or constitute an attorney-client relationship; (2) is not intended as a solicitation; (3) is not intended to convey or constitute legal advice; and (4) is not a substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney. You should not act upon any such information without first seeking qualified professional counsel on your specific matter. The hiring of an attorney is an important decision that should not be based solely upon website or video communications or advertisements. Feel free to contact us if you need legal assistance. #LegalLotus #FamilyLawyers #Divorce #TrialLawyers #FloridaLaw