Top 5 Custody Mistakes Parents Should Avoid During Divorce In Los Angeles, California

In this article, you can discover…

• How poor communications with your ex can harm your child custody case.
• The damaging consequences of badmouthing the other parent.
• How an experienced attorney can help you document communication and respond wisely to a difficult spouse.

How Can Poor Communication With My Ex During A Custody Case Cause Harm?

For one, poor communication with your ex can negatively impact your children. Everyone loves their children, whether they show it well or not; Everyone wants the best for their children. To that effect, your poor communication with your ex-husband or ex-wife will have a direct impact on your children’s well-being.

Whatever does or does not happen in court, you will still have months or years of dealing with your ex, legally, and a lifetime of dealing with them personally. You are forever tied to them, and to best preserve your relationship with your children, you must learn how to communicate decently with the other parent.

Legally speaking, if every conversation with your ex is difficult, you can get an order for “Talking Parents”, meaning that all of your communication with your ex must happen through an app where it will be recorded. If you or the other party is constantly being snarky, difficult, or mean, the words and tone will be visible in black and white and can be taken to court. You can get orders regarding response time and final decision making. For the sake of your child, you must have decent, clear communication with the other parent. You can not simply go silent on them.

Why Is Ignoring Court-Ordered Parenting Plans Risky During A Child Custody Dispute?

If you are ignoring orders (including parenting plans), this is the easiest way to receive even more restrictive orders, LESS TIME WITH YOUR KIDS. No judge is ever going to say, “Oh, look! He can’t follow orders. Let’s just give him what he wants”.

If you can not follow a court’s orders, you are going to get even less of what you want. To get what you want, you must follow the court’s orders, even if you don’t like or agree with them.

Attorney Jordana Better is a respected, focused family law attorney serving California. Since 2016, she’s helped clients just like you navigate their divorce to protect their child custody rights and ensure their case is handled smoothly and with care.

Have questions, or in need of legal guidance in a high-net-worth divorce? Reach out to the Law Office of Jordana N. Better for an initial consultation today.

How Does Badmouthing A Co-Parent Affect My Custody Case And My Child’s Well-Being?

Almost Every custody order in California has a non-disparagement clause. While difficult to practically enforce, this clause prohibits you from badmouthing the other parent to or in front of your child. Violating this clause will certainly look bad for you in a custody case.

The court may also make you responsible for preventing badmouthing from grandparents and significant others, too. If you cannot control these people while they are around your children, the court may prohibit your child from being around these people if they cannot stop speaking badly against the other parent.

On an emotional level, badmouthing your ex can cause serious emotional harm to your children. My firm has seen a huge increase in children of divorcing parents winding up in therapy because of the emotional harm caused when kids are put in the middle of their parents’ conflicts. As divorces are becoming more combative, this has been a noticeable problem. Your child is not your confidant or your therapist and should never serve that role.

How Can Failing To Document Communication And Agreements Affect My Chances In A Custody Battle?

People lie, and parties often lie in family court. In the middle, a judge is trying to figure out whose testimony is the most believable. To help mitigate these issues, clear documentation is your best option.

This is why communication apps like “Talking Parents” or “My Family Wizard” are so incredibly helpful. All of your communication is right there in black and white, and phone calls are transcribed for you. Some apps actually have a built-in tone meter that will alert you if your tone becomes snarky, difficult, or argumentative.

In short, documentation of conversations acts as your facts in court. I can not over-emphasize how crucial documenting your conversations with the other parent is, and records of these conversations are the first thing your attorney should be asking for.

How Parents Can Unintentionally Sabotage Their Own Custody Rights

Sadly, I have seen many cases where parents have unwittingly sabotaged their custody rights. It happens all the time. I handled one case where the mother was texting the father ridiculous, outlandish things at all hours, and the father simply ignored those text messages.

Unfortunately, this made the father look unresponsive and difficult, as it made him seem as though he wasn’t responding to the mother’s valid communications. It appeared as though the mother was trying to co-parent, while he was shutting down. In reality, the father was trying to co-parent, but the mother kept changing her mind constantly. Still, a lack of documented responses from him did not help his case.

The best way to avoid sabotaging your case with a difficult parent is to keep lines of documented communication open and frequent. No matter how difficult conversations may be, you can not simply go silent. This could cost you significantly in your orders.

Instead of withdrawing, always respond promptly and respectfully to all communications from the other parent. This will go a long way in helping a judge see you as cooperative, responsible, and engaged in your child’s life.

Still Have Questions? Ready To Get Started?

For more information on child custody mistakes to avoid during a Los Angeles divorce, an initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (888) 456-2040 today.