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How fathers may get custody of their children

On Behalf of | Mar 5, 2018 | Family Law |

Some fathers in Florida who are going through a divorce might wonder whether they can get full physical custody of their children. Traditionally, courts have awarded custody to mothers. Furthermore, there is some stigma attached to divorced fathers as deadbeat dads or otherwise being uninvolved in their children’s lives. However, there are still things fathers can do to increase the likelihood that they will be awarded physical custody.

Fathers should document all the time they spend with their children as well as any financial expenditures. The father should also be prepared to be questioned by the judge about the relationship with the child. With the best interests of the child in mind, the judge will want to make sure the relationship is a good one.

There are also several things a father should not do. Fathers should avoid confrontations with the mother, taking the children for long periods of time without telling anyone, having a partner move in before the divorce is final or saying anything negative about the mother in front of others. The process may seem a long and difficult one, but it is necessary to let it run its course. Above all, fathers should keep in mind that the health and well-being of the children is the most important thing.

Both parents should consider what kind of custody arrangement would be best for the children after a divorce. If one parent is abusive or otherwise puts the child in danger, then the other parent may want to talk to an attorney about how best to keep the child safe. However, if the parents simply have different lifestyles or disagreements about how best to raise the child, a situation in which the child gets time with both parents might be the right choice.