Child Custody - Why You Should Try To Settle Out Of Court
If you are going through a divorce, you and your ex-spouse may be disagreeing on more divorce-related things than you expected. When it comes to child custody, it can be hard to see where your ex-spouse is coming from and what might ultimately be best for the kids. Here are four reasons you should try to settle out of court when it comes to child custody.
1.This Can be Less Disruptive for Your Kids
Don't forget that your kids are going through this process with you and are probably confused and upset. Prolonging a fight with your ex-spouse through the court system may not be the healthiest way to fight for your children. If you have parented children together, you will be in one another's lives permanently. If you can settle out of court, you can have a more amicable divorce process and this will be less upsetting for children.
2. The Process Will be Streamlined
Bringing your custody case to court will take over your life and can be a lengthy process. You need to decide if this disruption is worth it with your child custody lawyer, and if it is the only option. Sometimes a settling out of court can alleviate this stress and let everyone move on with their lives.
3. Great Resources Available Outside of Court
Just because you may go the settlement route in a child custody case doesn't mean that you are doing this without representation. Mediators, arbitrators and child custody lawyers are all in the game of working to settle out of court when it comes to custody. The agreements drawn up are vetted by professionals and hold just as much legal ground as going to court.
4. The Settlement Offer is Fair
If you were hoping for full custody but have been offered a joint custody arrangement that poses you as the primary caretaker, this might be a fair judgment. Just because you are angry doesn't mean that your ex-spouse is a bad parent. Going to court might seem like the best option if you are fighting for custody rights, but you might be left with the same verdict that was initially offered. Sometimes meeting your ex-spouse halfway and settling out of court is actually a fair option.
Child custody disputes go to trial when parents cannot come up with an agreement even after initial consultation. Before you reject a child custody arrangement offered, make sure that the disagreement truly is something that cannot be worked through outside of court. Go over the drawbacks of heading to court for a custody case with your lawyer before you dismiss settling out of court. Talk with a firm like Law Offices of Gordon Liebmann for more direction in your divorce process.