Custody Battle: 10 Things That Can Sabotage Your Case

During a child custody case, whether it’s part of a divorce or a separate custody dispute, it’s essential to recognize potential pitfalls, often referred to as custody battle mistakes. Strategizing for each phase of your Texas family law case is key to ensuring success. I’ve seen many families with strong cases and clear goals fall short because they lacked a well-organized plan. Engaging in a custody dispute requires a deep understanding of your position, your co-parent’s arguments, and, most importantly, what truly serves the best interests of your child. Avoiding common custody battle mistakes and staying focused on the child’s well-being will greatly improve your chances of a favorable outcome.

In this blog post, I will share with you some information on decisions and issues in a child custody case that can throw you off course and cause you not to achieve your goals. While every child custody case is a bit different, I have noticed trends within the vast majority of child custody cases that allow me to give you some general advice as you are beginning or beginning to consider the filing of a child custody case in Texas. Some of your circumstances may not be included in today’s blog post. If so, I would recommend reaching out to an experienced family law attorney with the Law Office of Bryan Fagan. Our free-of-charge consultations will offer you an opportunity to learn about Texas family law and receive answers to your questions.

Issue #1: Not Developing You Are “why”

Behind every decision you make in your child custody case should be a strong motivation to do good for your child. An element of concrete reasoning should back up every position that you take within the case. By this, I mean you need to be able to articulate why you are taking a particular position regarding your case. Unless you can establish a concrete explanation for why you want to do something, you may want to rethink why you hold that position in the 1st place. For instance, you may have a strong desire to become the primary conservator of your child after your divorce or child custody case. This is a perfectly normal position to hold; it is one that you should be prepared to defend in court if necessary.

However, given the significance of this decision and your desire to become the primary Conservatory child, you need to consider why you seriously want to hold this designation. Many times you may want to do something just because you know it would ruffle the feathers of your Co-parent or annoy them to a certain extent. Do not allow the child custody case to become a shouting or arguing match between you and your Co-parent. Rather, you should closely examine your motivations for taking particular positions and then only defend those positions that you are strongly behind.

Issue #2: Not Thinking Long Term

When it comes to child custody cases, I oftentimes see people experiencing problems from the beginning because they are unwilling to think long-term. This is a big problem that I feel impacts many people in different sorts of child custody cases, but there are two elements to this problem that I would like to mention today. The first problem that I see people suffering with when it comes to their child custody case is not hiring an attorney believing that they can represent themselves or that an attorney is too expensive. I would certainly recommend that you interview multiple family law attorneys to gain a different perspective on your case and determine what attorneys’ fees may look like across the broad spectrum of lawyers. Remember that hiring an attorney is a short-term investment into your long-term future.

Thank you for calling; the other problem that I see with people making short-term rather than long-term decisions is that the problems in your life may not be solved in one family law case. You may end up having to return to modify a court order in the future. With that said, you should not always bank on coming back and modifying the order exactly how you want it in the future. I see people in your position all the time except settlement offers and fail to negotiate strongly to finish the case sooner rather than later period; this is a short-sighted and oftentimes disastrous mistake. Do not put yourself in a position where you agree to something without thinking of the long-term impacts.

Issue #3: Custody Battle Mistakes

When it comes to child custody orders, determining Visitation and possession are among the most important subjects, you can encounter. As such, you and your Co-parent will need to determine a schedule for Visitation that suits you all well, considering your children and your schedules. When you get into a mediation situation, your mediator and attorney will work with you to play out all the different scenarios that could arise when it comes to dropping off and picking up children and figuring out how to arrange Visitation throughout the year. Some families create elaborate, finely tuned plans but failed to consider the logistical problems you may encounter.

I don’t need to tell you that Houston is a big city. Coordinating drop-off and pick-up times on a Friday afternoon during the school year can be easier said than done. I would recommend making sure that bearing in mind your work schedule and your children’s schedules that you can fulfill your obligations in terms of dropping off and picking up the kids. In the alternative, if you are the primary conservator of your children, you should make sure that you can have the kids available at the designated time and location for your Co-parent to pick them up. If you fail to do so, you put yourself in a position where you may be habitually violating your court orders and therefore risk ending up back in court for an enforcement case sooner rather than later.

Issue #4: Fighting for Issues You Have No Chance of Winning

there is nothing wrong with having goals in a child custody case. We have already established that the failure to have goals is one of the biggest mistakes a person can have in a child custody case. However, it would be best if you made sure that your goals are attainable. If you set forth goals regarding child custody, child support, or any subject in between and those goals are not attainable, you will spend time and money putting good money after bad.

People in your position have a problem that you likely do not know what a reasonable goal is for your child custody case. This is not to be unexpected: you are not an attorney, you have likely never been through a child custody case, and you have no basis for making any comparisons to determine what is reasonable versus an unreasonable goal. This is one of the main benefits of having an experienced family law attorney to represent you in a child custody case. The attorney can help guide you to determine a reasonable goal and what is not a reasonable goal for your case.

We spoke earlier about wanting to become the primary conservator of your child. There is nothing wrong with having this goal, but you should also be aware that much of the judge’s determination regarding this subject will be based on your prior history. If you have not been the primary caretaker for your children over the past few years before your child custody case, it may be unlikely that a judge would name you as primary caretaker absent other circumstances. Speak with your attorney about your goals early in the case, and they can help guide you to help you maximize your position within the case.

Issue #5: Setting up Unrealistic Expectations for The Length of the Case

One thing that I have encountered with clients in your position, who are anticipating a child custody case, is that they have unrealistic expectations for how quickly the case should be over with. While Texas divorces have a 60-day waiting period to complete a case after filing, a Texas child custody case has no such requirement. As such, it may be that you believe your case could be wrapped up sooner than later. If your case ends up taking a little bit longer to complete, this may cause frustration both with your Co-parent and with your attorney.

Since your family law case has unique components and issues to your family, I would not recommend basing your experience on another person. With that said, you should talk with your attorney at the beginning of your case about the timeline so that you don’t get your hopes up about completing the case sooner than it is realistically possible. This does not mean your child custody case will take years to complete, but it does mean that patience will be a virtue for you and your Co-parent. The better you can communicate and negotiate with one another, the shorter your case may be.

Issue #6: Making This Case Into a Battle of the Parents

It may be easy for me as an attorney to say. Still, when parents approach a child custody case as a battle or competition between them, the case suffers, the final orders suffer, and ultimately your children will suffer. I say this realizing full well that the child custody case is styled you versus your other parent. There are likely some contentious issues that need to be sorted out in this child custody case, and you are following the case to have those issues sorted out. I’ve even heard family law attorneys referred to as gladiators who go to battle on behalf of their paying clients.

While this is certainly an interesting way to look at child custody cases, the reality is that once you and your Co-parent begin to look at your circumstances as being more about yourselves and less about the well-being of your children, your case will begin to suffer. Rather than make this case about you and your other parent, you should keep a focus on your children and do your best to be honest about what is actually in their best interest. This may mean taking a backseat to your Co-parent in certain areas, and they are allowing you the same courtesy and others. However, if you can put aside your ego and emotions, your child will likely benefit greatly.

Issue #7: Forcing the Issue and Turning Your Child Custody Case Into a Courtroom Battle

There is nothing wrong, in and of itself, with needing to go to court to deal with the many issues you may encounter in your case. This is especially true if you’re a Co-parent; he violates court orders or otherwise does things that may harm your child. With that said, there is also ample opportunity to drag yourself and your parent into court at every opportunity to answer therefore delaying and prolonging your case.

For example, you may not like every action of your Co-parent during the case. They may take liberties when it comes to picking up or dropping off her child on time, or thank you for a response to your discovery requests may not be exactly what you can find out based on The Texas Rules of Civil Procedure. However, you and your attorney need to determine how frequently you need to seek judicial intervention regarding issues in your case. Make no mistake; there will be ample opportunity for you to do so. It is up to you all to determine whether or not you and your Co-parent can solve your issues together in negotiation or whether you need to resort to a judge to play a tiebreaker.

Issue #8: Not Preparing for Mediation Sufficiently

Whether we’re talking about final orders or temporary orders mediation, you and your attorney need to be on the same page when it comes to this date. For instance, you all should have spoken through your goals and which of those goals are the most important to you. Mediation offers the parties and their attorneys an opportunity to facilitate discussion and negotiation through an experienced mediator. The time spent in mediation can be invaluable as far as helping you all arrive at an amicable conclusion to your case. However, if you come into mediation without having prepared sufficiently, you will not be able to take full advantage of the opportunity.

Therefore, I would request your attorney to have even a 30-minute or hour-long meeting with them before mediation. The day before mediation, you all can work on shaping your goals and determining how you want to proceed and respond to counteroffers and offers made to you by your opposing party. Trust me when I say that you will feel much more at ease when thrown curveballs in negotiation.

Issue #9: Not Reading Through the Final Orders of Your Case Before Signing

After all the hard work and time spent in your child custody case, you are very likely going to be eager to complete the case and put it behind you. However, that does not mean that you can not go over the final orders in your case with a fine-tooth comb before signing. This is especially true if your Co parent’s attorney was the one to draft the orders. You and your attorney should review those orders closely and determine if something is not clear or if something does not reflect the nature of your agreement. Do not assume that you will be able to come back and correct any errors in the future because it is likely that you will not be able to.

Issue #10: Not Asking Questions

This one is pretty simple: ask your attorney before making decisions if you have a question about something. If your attorney does not explain something well enough to you, ask them to explain it again and again, if necessary. There is no shame in asking questions.

In conclusion, avoiding common custody battle mistakes is crucial for anyone involved in a child custody case. By strategically planning each step, staying focused on what’s best for your child, and understanding both your position and your co-parent’s perspective, you can navigate the legal complexities with greater confidence. A clear, well-thought-out approach will not only improve your chances of success but also help ensure that the child’s needs remain at the forefront of the case. With the right preparation and awareness, you can minimize setbacks and increase the likelihood of a positive outcome.

Having a Custody Battle Mistakes? Contact the Law Office of Bryan FaganToday

Navigating a child custody case, whether within the context of a divorce or an independent dispute, demands careful consideration of potential pitfalls, often referred to as custody battle mistakes. Strategizing each stage of the legal process is paramount for achieving success in Texas family law cases. The absence of a well-thought-out plan can undermine even the strongest cases and thwart the attainment of desired objectives. As individuals embark on this challenging journey, it’s essential to comprehend their position within the case, anticipate their co-parent’s arguments, and prioritize the welfare of the child above all else.

If you have any questions about the material contained in today’s blog post, please do not hesitate to contact the Law Office of Bryan Fagan. Our licensed family law attorneys offer free-of-charge consultation six days a week in person, over the phone, and via video. These consultations are a great opportunity for you to learn more about the world of Texas family law and to discover how your circumstances may be impacted by the filing of a child custody or divorce case.

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