blog home Child Allocation Common Mistakes Men Make in Child Custody Battles

Common Mistakes Men Make in Child Custody Battles

By Nottage and Ward on April 3, 2012

Judges, as human beings, are susceptible to biases when it comes to child custody disputes, even if the concept that children are always better off with their mother has been disproved in many cases. Many courts may still operate under this stereotype, which makes it harder for a father to gain custody of his children. This is why making sure to not fall victim to common custody battle pitfalls is especially important. According to The Huffington Post, a father’s best chances to coming out on top in a custody dispute are in avoiding these five common mistakes:

  1. Yelling at your wife. Societal presumptions place the man in a position of power over the woman, although this is not necessarily the case. Because of this presumption, however, women can use fear of their husbands as ammunition in court, whether it is true or not. Therefore, it is important for any father to be as civil and mild mannered toward his wife as possible. Heated arguments may make you want to yell, but fight the impulse.
  2. Moving in with a new significant other. Since divorce is already a difficult time for children, a court may look down on a father exposing his children to a significant other before the divorce is even final.
  3. “Bad-mouthing” your wife to family and friends. Criticizing your wife to others may be merely a way for you to vent your feelings, but, as these criticisms will likely get back to your wife, the court may view such behavior as an attempt at parental alienation. Any disparaging comments about your wife may be considered a ploy to get your kids to turn on her.
  4. Denying children telephone contact with their mother when they are with you. Always let your children call their mother when they ask and always be polite when their mother calls to check on them.
  5. Taking the children on vacation, without telling their mother. Both parents have a right to know where their children are at all times. If you plan to take them on a trip out of your usual area, make sure their mother knows and approves. Leaving without letting her know may look like you are kidnapping the children.

The minute you decide to divorce, everything you have done and everything you will do during the divorce process can affect the court’s child custody decision. If you are planning on getting a divorce in Illinois and are concerned about the potential child custody arrangement, the knowledgeable Chicago child custody lawyers at Nottage and Ward can help. Call us today at (312) 332-2915 for a consultation.

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