Custody Agreement

Child Custody Court Hearings - What to Expect at Your First Custody Hearing

Nothing puts a knot in the pit of your stomach in quite the way the way that going to a custody hearing at family court does. One of the most frequent questions I see is "What should I expect?". Well if you haven't been there or your last experience was bad, then you will want to spend some time educating yourself about what happens and how you should both prepare and act.

Unless you are nearing the end of your court journey and heading to settlement conferences and the like, you will normally have about 15 minutes or less. Excuse me, but that 15 minutes is for your hearing, not the amount of time that you get to speak. By the time the judge speaks, your ex speaks and then you get to have a say you're looking at about 5 minutes.

So your life and your child's fate all comes down to how you spend your 5 minutes. Think about that for just a moment. You have so much to say and if you put yourself in front of a total stranger for 5 minutes, do you think they would see your side? Maybe. And now let that total stranger get 5 minutes with the ex telling them what a horrible person you are. What do you think will happen? Most people aren't optimistic at this point. I mean how are you going to possibly explain all of the ugliness that your ex can put out in 5 minutes?

So now that you're convinced no possible good can come from this hearing, let's look at the title again. "What to expect at you first custody hearing". You see the scenario above is what could happen if you don't prepare. But what would happen if we did things a bit differently.

Take the case of a man I just helped prepare for his hearing. He was terrified that his ex was going to leave the state with his child and he would not be able to see her. You see she had remarried and was going to relocate to a military base. This wasn't a threat, this was a foregone conclusion. He was desperate and knew that arguing wasn't going to get him what he wanted.

He was right to be scared and absolutely correct that he would not accomplish anything by arguing. So what I did was taught him to focus his 5 minutes on the issue of his case. No matter what the ex accused him of or how she tried to change the conversation, he was to bring it back focus on not moving his daughter out of state.

When the court date came mother made some rather awful allegations about father and when the judge asked father what he thought of them, father responded, "these issues have no bearing on this motion". The judge agreed and chastised mother. After that it was all downhill for mother and all uphill for father. They were ordered to evaluation and father was awarded temporary custody in the event that mother should need to move before evaluation was not yet complete. You see, what you need to expect is that the court will hear what you have to say. So choose what you want to talk about and focus your 5 minutes.

Want to learn more about high conflict child custody resolution? Receive my brand new series Child Custody "Court Processes and Case Flow".

Want to learn more about handling Child Visitation issues you can find it here.

Served papers to go to court but has no court date ?
Today I was served papers to go to court by the father of my baby to establish paternity and to work out a custody agreement and child support. But the section of the paper that is supposed to have the court date and time was left blank. I've never gone to court before so this is new to me. Can anyone explain to me why it was left blank or if I should call the courthouse? Thank you.

Get the answers...

Is this considered a threat?
My husband and I are separated. We have no custody agreement. We have 2 small children. Our kids live with me. He had them last saturday and was supposed to bring them home that sunday. He has had them all week and wouldn't answer the phone when i called to talk to the kids. So today i went and checked my daughter out of school a little early to bring her back home. He calls me and asks me why i did i pick her up and i told him because i didn't know when or if he ever planned on bringing them home. I told him i tried calling him and he wouldn't answer, he said i didn't need to talk to my kids and put stuff in their heads. Then he said, your gonna get what's coming to your a**, and hung up on me. Is that considered a threat? Is it enough to call the cops and report it, maybe it will even help me in court when we deal with custody. any advice? he still has my 4 year old son, i couldn't get him because hes not in school and he is at their house. my daughter goes back to school monday and i just know he will probably pick her up again and keep her.

Get the answers...

Help??? I need to know about modifying a custody agreement?
My husband and I have been separated for 9 months. He left us (our 2 year old and myself) and shortly after, I was served with a custody complaint. We agreed to something in mediation so it never went before the judge. Now ...he's threatening to take me to court for 50/50 custody. Please tell me what will happen now? WILL I GET SERVED? What document will it be? Will it be to modify custody? Does it make him look bad that hes done this to me twice in 9 months? Thanks....I have no attorney this time around. I spent 10 grand and now I'm broke. Also..might I continue it out a few months? He's just trying to get out of paying child support

Get the answers...

Custody Agreement News

Lakeville dad who abandoned son eyes joint custody with estranged mother (w/ VIDEO)

The father who abandoned his 11-year-old son in their Lakeville home last summer agreed Wednesday in court to cooperate with the child's mother in creating a joint child-custody agreement.

Getting answers about father's custody rights

Evangeline Parish's Corey Gautreaux was arrested last Saturday and accused of kidnapping his daughter, Riley. Gautreaux and the child's mother have a verbal custody agreement but nothing official. So, how can the Avoyelles Parish Sheriff's Office charge him with kidnapping? That's just one of a list of questions KATC had for law enforcement. Question 1: Can a biological parent be charged with ...

Halle Berry's Baby Daddy, Gabriel Aubry, Triumphant In Custody Battle

By Jen Heger - Radar Legal Editor Score one for Gabriel Aubry , Halle Berry 's ex-boyfriend and father of her three year old daughter Nahla! Social workers recommended that no changes be made in the current custody agreement between the sparring parents , and the judge appears likely to concur and not grant Berry's request for a restraining order and/or monitored visitation , RadarOnline.com is ...

Winton Futures Fund - New Custodian

Stock Exchange Announcement For immediate release 26 th January 2012 Winton Futures Fund Ltd. (the "Fund") (Re: New Custodian) JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, London branch ("J.P. ...

Minn. father who abandoned son still wants reunion

A Minnesota father accused of abandoning his 11-year-old son last summer has again asked to be reunited with the boy.

Fitch Rates Brighter Choice Charter Middle Schools, NY 'BB+'; Outlook Stable

Fitch Ratings has assigned a 'BB+' rating to approximately $15.05 million of project education revenue bonds , series 2012 issued by the Industrial Development Authority

Father who abandoned son still wants reunion

HASTINGS, Minn. (AP) --- A Minnesota father accused of abandoning his 11-year-old son last summer has again asked to be reunited with the boy.Sixty-year-old Steven Cross of Lakeville renewed his request Wednesday during a child-protection hearing.But the judge says a court-appointed doctor says Cross "lacks empathy" for the boy. The doctor recommended against a reunion right now.The St. Paul ...