December 3, 2020

What to Do After Losing Child Custody

It is heartbreaking when you have to deal with losing custody of your child. But the loss doesn't have to be permanent. With planning and patience, you can take corrective action and possibly regain custody of your children.

This article will look at some steps you can take after losing a custody case in court.

Seek to Understand Why You Lost Custody

The court operates to protect the best interest of the child. There are several factors the court may consider when awarding custody. As such, they may evaluate the role each parent plays in raising the child, including your home environment and any other extraneous circumstances.

The home environment must be conducive for raising children. If the parents live away from each other, the court may consider the child's connection to the local community, like where they go to school or their proximity to other family members, like grandparents. These are often determining factors in the initial custody battle.

If there has been evidence of neglect or abuse on your part, you might lose the custody case. You can talk to your family law attorney and ask them to explain the legal aspects of how the case was decided. Family law can be hard to navigate and your attorney can help you understand why you lost and what you can do to regain visitation rights.

Focus on Taking Action

Once you have determined why you lost custody, the next step is to focus on corrective action. You can always make changes that will help you legally in the future.

If the reason for losing custody was alcoholism or substance abuse, you could sign up for rehabilitation services. You can also take parenting classes to demonstrate your love and concern for your children. Your attorney might also recommend that you talk to a social worker to help you figure out the areas you need to improve on to stand a better chance in the future. Your commitment to improving as a parent will help you if you petition for custody or visitation rights down the line.

Take Advantage of Visitation

You should also take advantage of visitation time to spend more quality time with your children. Even if you don't have sole custody of your child, making the most of the time you do have is key. Many parents get visitation rights on the weekends or for certain days of the month. If you have proven that you're able to stick to a good visitation schedule, you may be granted more custody in the future. This is something essential to talk about with your family law attorney.

Consult a Family Law Attorney

A family law attorney can help you evaluate your case so that you can work on the most effective corrective action. If the court has given conditions, make sure you fulfill the stipulations before taking the next step.

A child custody lawyer can also assist you in coming up with alternatives. You can decide to co-parent instead of going for full custody if you had done that initially.

Be Patient

When you lose custody, your anger and disappointment can compel you to act impulsively. But as you wait for the court to review your case, you should ensure you are on your best behavior.

Always make sure you visit your children and pick them up from school in accordance with the visitation times. Be polite and avoid bad-mouthing the other parent to your kids. Always follow court orders and be sure to observe all the rules set by the court.

Statistics show that 40 to 50% of couples in the United States divorce. Often a battle over the custody of the children ensues. If you lose the case, consider talking to a divorce lawyer to assist you in taking corrective steps. A lawyer can help you examine the case more objectively. That is particularly critical at such times when you are dealing with the loss of the custody of your children. When you want help understanding the ins and outs of custody, rely on family law attorneys you can trust.

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