# How Can I Win Custody? | Brown Family Law **Table of Contents***[*SHOW*]* 1. Creating a Workable Parenting Plan 2. Focusing on the Child’s Well-Being 3. Being Respectful and Courteous to Your Ex-Spouse 4. Rectifying Your Shortcomings 5. Hiring an Experienced Family Law Attorney You can win a child custody battle only when you keep the [child’s best interests](https://www.brownfamilylaw.com/blog/determining-the-best-interests-of-a-child-in-utah/) in mind. Here is how you can do that: ![How Can I Win Custody?](https://www.brownfamilylaw.com/wp-content/uploads/how-can-i-win-custody.png) 1. By creating a workable parenting plan 2. By focusing on the child’s well-being 3. By being respectful and courteous to your ex-spouse 4. By rectifying your shortcomings 5. By hiring an experienced [family law attorney](https://www.brownfamilylaw.com/utah/child-custody-lawyer/) Separation is usually unhappy, divorce is almost always tragic, and a child custody battle can be nerve-racking and a very sad event for the child. Despite all the unhappiness around the event, every parent should realize that he/she is an adult who can take things in stride, but it is the child who has to psychologically cope with the fallout and try and adjust to the new normal. The parents thus owe it to their child to put their differences behind them and work towards the best interests of the child, which is what the [courts take into account before awarding custody](https://www.brownfamilylaw.com/faqs/who-is-more-likely-to-win-a-custody-battle/). If the parents give preference to the child over their desires and hostilities, the courts can take a favorable view of the situation, and the custody battle can become a win–win situation. ## Creating a Workable Parenting Plan Ideally, both the parents should sit together and create a parenting plan through cordial mutual discussions. A parenting plan usually contains a schedule of parent-time for each parent, in general, and for special occasions and holidays, a schedule for transfer of the child between the parents, details about which parent gets the primary custody or how the custody ([physical or legal](https://www.brownfamilylaw.com/faqs/are-fathers-entitled-to-50-50-custody/)) is to be shared between the parents if no parent gets the sole custody. A parenting plan must also include the following: a plan for childcare and child’s education, a plan to ensure communication and information sharing between the parents and between the parents and the child, a dispute resolution process, and a plan for unforeseen events like a parent relocating to another place, or any such event depending upon the circumstances of the case. Both parents should create a workable parenting plan that ensures the child’s well-being and growth. Here are some guiding principles that can help: - Does the parenting plan ensure that the child will not be adversely affected, physically or emotionally? - Does the parenting plan reconcile the changing dynamics (because of the divorce) with the child’s needs? - Does the parenting plan minimize the child’s exposure to any potential arguments between the parents? - Does the parenting plan state the responsibilities of each parent towards the child? - Are the parents in agreement about fulfilling their duties and responsibilities? However, there is one exception. This happens when one parent has the potential to harm the child physically or psychologically. In such a case, the courts can consider this parent unfit to care for the child and grant custody to the other parent. The parent who has the potential to cause damage can nevertheless get visitation rights. Get Clear Guidance for Your Divorce [Schedule a Consultation](https://www.brownfamilylaw.com/contact-us/) ## Focusing on the Child’s Well-Being Until the child reaches 18 years of age, every parent has to ensure that the child gets proper education, is provided with nutritious food, adequate clothing, a roof over the head, medical care, insurance, and financial support. Focus on providing your child with these basic needs, because if you don’t, you may get in legal trouble and your custody case can weaken. You also need to demonstrate to the courts that you are physically and mentally fit and capable of providing for your child’s needs – and that you will always be present for your child when the circumstances call for it. A Calmer, Clearer Way Through Divorce [Talk to Our Team](https://www.brownfamilylaw.com/contact-us/) ## Being Respectful and Courteous to Your Ex-Spouse You cannot expect to create an objective parenting plan that benefits the child if you keep fighting or arguing with your ex-spouse. Arguments can escalate and turn ugly, leading to non-cooperation and frustration. Many parents can go ballistic on social media and their “defamatory” posts can be used against them in the custody battle. So, you must focus on the task at hand – which is working in the best interests of your child – and push aside all the anger and hurt the divorce has caused. Place facts on the table and walk away when an argument starts brewing. Focus on the facts and the parenting plan you are creating. Both spouses should try to be courteous, professional, and peaceful towards each other, and turn their focus on the child’s well-being instead of their egos. If you cannot agree to a parenting plan, don’t rush to the courts with a petition in hand. Check with your [family law](https://www.brownfamilylaw.com/utah/family-lawyer/) attorney who can calm things down and help you stay focused or guide you about other collaborative options, such as mediation. ![Brown Law Logo](https://www.brownfamilylaw.com/wp-content/themes/brown-family-law/assets/app/img/logo-white.png) Support Through Your Toughest Transition [Call ![call-arrow](https://www.brownfamilylaw.com/wp-content/themes/brown-family-law/assets/app/svg/cta-call.svg)801-685-9999](tel:+18016859999) ## Rectifying Your Shortcomings Humans are different and every person has some chinks in his/her armor. In a custody battle, both spouses’ lives are put under the scanner and accusations fly thick and fast. Some accusations can stick and hurt your case. You need to know what can work against you in the courts and you need your family law attorney’s opinion on that. Your lawyer can help you understand the following: - Factors that can hurt your [child custody](https://www.brownfamilylaw.com/salt-lake-city-ut/child-custody-lawyer/) case - Ways to overcome these negatives - Ways to turn these negatives into positives, thereby creating a favorable perception with the courts ## Hiring an Experienced Family Law Attorney Hiring a firm that specializes in family law and is staffed with experienced lawyers can ease the pain caused by the child custody battle. Experienced lawyers know the law like the back of their hand, and they know how the courts work from experience in cases that were similar to yours. Moreover, they know how to negotiate effectively, how to help the warring ex-spouses keep the peace, and ultimately resolve the case amicably and quickly by using the collaborative divorce approach. Moreover, such lawyers make you aware of the positives and negatives of your case and help you approach the custody battle realistically and practically. To sum up, you can win a custody battle only by acting in the best interests of the child. The tips discussed here can help you stay grounded in reality and collaborate with your spouse and lawyer in making a plan in which everyone wins – the child, your spouse, and you. Child Custody Blog Posts: [![What to Know About Child Custody Orders](https://www.brownfamilylaw.com/wp-content/uploads/what-to-know-about-child-custody-orders-300x200.jpg)](https://www.brownfamilylaw.com/blog/what-to-know-about-child-custody-orders/) ### [What to Know About Child Custody Orders](https://www.brownfamilylaw.com/blog/what-to-know-about-child-custody-orders/) Getting divorced can be a stressful and life altering path for the adults involved, but what if there are children to [![There Are Many Reasons for a Child Custody Battle](https://www.brownfamilylaw.com/wp-content/uploads/there-are-many-reasons-for-a-child-custody-battle-300x200.jpg)](https://www.brownfamilylaw.com/blog/there-are-many-reasons-for-a-child-custody-battle/) ### [There Are Many Reasons for a Child Custody Battle](https://www.brownfamilylaw.com/blog/there-are-many-reasons-for-a-child-custody-battle/) When it comes to matters of child custody, there are many reasons why parents are unable to get along. Sometimes, each [![Arguments That Promote Co-Parenting](https://www.brownfamilylaw.com/wp-content/uploads/arguments-that-promote-co-parenting-300x200.jpg)](https://www.brownfamilylaw.com/blog/arguments-that-promote-co-parenting/) ### [Arguments That Promote Co-Parenting](https://www.brownfamilylaw.com/blog/arguments-that-promote-co-parenting/) Co-parenting after a divorce simply refers to the way that both parents can be active in raising a child, even if they [![Child Custody and Doing What’s Best for Your Children](https://www.brownfamilylaw.com/wp-content/uploads/child-custody-and-doing-whats-best-for-your-children-300x200.jpg)](https://www.brownfamilylaw.com/blog/child-custody-and-doing-whats-best-for-your-children/) ### [Child Custody and Doing What’s Best for Your Children](https://www.brownfamilylaw.com/blog/child-custody-and-doing-whats-best-for-your-children/) Divorce is difficult on all parties involved, especially children. They don't often understand what is going on. And in --- Source: https://www.brownfamilylaw.com/faqs/how-can-i-win-custody/