Full Custody of Your Children – Where to Start

While many couples may be able to work out a mutually agreeable custody-sharing relationship during and after a divorce, in some situations, one parent may need to push for full custody rights. Full custody means that a single parent has exclusive rights to the welfare and upbringing of your child. In the eyes of the legal system, the parent that has full custody rights has the final say in all matters pertaining to welfare of the child. Because of this, divorces where one parent is granted full custody rights are becoming extremely uncommon. In fact sole custody decisions are generally only granted when one parent can prove that the other parent is unfit to perform the very basic of parenting responsibilities. Oftentimes, custodial rights are restricted or removed because it’s been proven that a parent abuses alcohol or drugs, is a child abuser or has been found guilty of domestic violence.

Because of the horrible circumstances that you have to find yourself in to want to fight for full custody of a child, it’s probably not a situation that most people hope to find themselves in. If you are in that situation where you truly believe you have having full custody rights of your children is what’s best, it’s not going to be an easy thing to accomplish. Similarly “how to get full custody of your child” is not a topic that can be covered easily, but there are some things that you can do, preferably early on, that are going to increase your chances of being granted sole custody of your children.

Document Everything

Many attorneys, mediators and judges will tell you that divorce is rarely an easy thing to go through. More often than not, it’s a constant barrage of hearsay, making it difficult for these professionals to uncover what’s truly best for the kids. So if you truly are going to press for full custody rights, you need to get in the habit of documenting everything. Every time something is said, done, witnessed or experienced, keep a log of it. Gather as much evidence as possible to support your case. This can include time logs, descriptions of what you witnessed, text messages, voicemails, emails, conversations with others, etc. Clearly this can quickly turn into a large amount of information, so a means of keeping it all organized and accessible is important, too. By keeping all of this and having it organized, you will have an entire trove of information and evidence to offer on your behalf, which will work to sidestep much of the hearsay that’s sure to be involved.

Sole Custody Misconceptions

If you do decide that you are going to seek sole custody, remember there are some commonly held misconceptions. First, no judge is automatically going to grant full custody for mothers. It used be a commonly held belief that having a mother present during early development years was important. Research has shown that the gender of the parent does not matter as much as the parent be active and involved.

Second, father’s custody rights are an important and legitimate concern for judges, mediators and attorneys. Father’s are not discriminated against in custody proceedings if they have the proof and documentation to show that they are the parent that can offer the child the most stable, nurturing and caring environment.

None of us really want to find our self in the situation where we need figure out how to get full custody of your child because the road that brings us there is not a good one to say the least. If you do find yourself on this path, though, remember that it’s important to document any and all information regarding your children and the other parent. This way when you do begin the custody hearings, you’ll have a better chance of being granted full custody rights.

Remember, when you get full custody of your child, you also get full custody of child rearing and all other responsibilities. So, this is not a decision to take lightly and should only be attempted if you are positive that you can raise the child alone.

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