Keeping Child Custody Cases Outside Of The Courtroom
Child custody can be hard to for parents going through a divorce to come to an agreement on. If you and your ex can come to an agreement outside of court or through mediation, this is the best plan. Going to court for child custody disputes should be avoided if at all possible. Here are four reasons child custody cases should be settled outside of court.
1. Court Can be a Long Process
Drawing out your divorce and related child custody case can take a toll on your family. If you can at the very least work out child custody disputes outside of the courtroom, this will save your family the time of having to battle this out in court. Family law attorneys and mediators are skilled at custody cases and can facilitate coming to a resolution outside of court and in a shorter amount of time.
2. Going to Court is Expensive
If both parties must seek legal representation and also bring a custody case to court, expenses can get out of control. If you don't have the funds to cover all of the expenses for a full blown court case, mediation might be a better option. Mediators are trained professionals who can also effectively resolve disagreement over child custody.
3. Keeping things Amicable
If you and your ex can try your best to agree on custody outside of court, you will be setting a better example for your children. How divorce and custody concerns are handled sets the tone for your future relationship with your ex. They are going to be a part of your life if you have children together, so trying to come to an agreement on custody issues as peacefully as possible is important.
4. Court can be Tough on Your Kids
Don't forget that your children are going through a divorce as well, or are now a part of revised custody battle. Court can be tough, and if your children are older, they might have to be involved in the actual proceedings. As a parent you know what is ultimately best for your children, but sometimes it can be hard to see that the means to an end can also be taxing on them.
Sometimes court is unavoidable. If you have tried all other options to reach an agreement with your ex, sometimes court is a necessity. This should be the last resort, and if you can avoid the court process when it comes to custody issues, it is worth it. Work with a family law attorney, such as Thomas & Associates, PC, or a mediator to try to settle your custody case outside of court.