How to File Child Custody Papers
If you have to file papers for child custody then you must know how to do it. You should have legal representation to file for child custody papers. To file a child custody papers properly, just follow the steps mentioned below.
STEP – 1: First you must hire a lawyer. He will take care of all your legal matters related to your child custody case as well as fight your case in the court. When you hire a lawyer, do a little bit of research before you select one. There must be many good law firms in your city. Go through their services, the fees they charge & most importantly client feedback. Only when you are fully satisfied with the capability of a law firm or an individual lawyer, should you hire them. You can also file the papers yourself without any legal representation (in pro se). You mat do that if you cannot afford a lawyer. But we suggest that you hire a lawyer to file your child custody papers. It makes the process that much easier.
STEP - 2: If your lawyer is going to file your papers for you then you have nothing to worry about. He will take care of everything. But if you are going to file the papers yourself, then you need to do a few things. First you need to call up your local family court’s child custody department & ask them how can you get the form for filing child custody papers pro se. In some states these forms can be downloaded from the internet & in some other you would have visit the courts in person & obtain the papers from there.
STEP – 3: Research the child custody law of your states in detail & make sure you understand all the nitty-gritty of it. This is important. The custody demands you put in your form will impact your case immensely. Don’t be naïve in demanding full custody of your children just because you don’t want them to live apart from you. Take all the necessary factors into consideration & then put up your demands in the form.
STEP – 4: Make sure you maintain all the necessary documents related to your case properly. Keep a record of all the emails, phone calls, visits, especially those between you & your ex.
STEP – 5: If you have any confusion regarding filling up the custody form, then you can call your local family court clerk & ask him for information. For this you might have to go to the courts & a simple phone call might not do. If you need to visit the court then go there & get all the info you need from them.
STEP – 6: When you have all the information you need & you are ready to file the custody papers, call the court & ask them when you should go to file the petition. When you are going there to file the petition make sure you take all the necessary documents with you. If you miss any document then you might have to comeback home & again go to the court for filling the papers. So spare yourself this trouble. Also be polite with the court clerks as they stay a little busy & will appreciate if you are polite with them.
STEP – 7: Just before submitting the form, read it one more time & make sure you have filled all the required areas properly.
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