Exploring The Nuances Of Immigration Law

If you're in the middle of a divorce, and you have children, it's important that you take their needs into consideration. It's important to remember that you and your spouse are divorcing, but your children will still have two parents. Even if you and your spouse can't agree on the terms of the divorce, you need to agree on the terms of child custody. If you can't come to a joint decision about custody, the courts will have to do it for you. Here are four reasons why you want to avoid having the court decide your custody arrangements.

There Are No Guarantees You'll Get What You Want

When it comes to courtroom divorce battles, there is no guarantee that you'll walk away with the custody arrangement you wanted. In fact, you may walk away with less than you wanted. To help improve your chances of obtaining the custody arrangements you want, you owe it to yourself—and your children—to try and negotiate an agreement between you and your spouse.

Custody Battles Can Be Costly

If you're trying to keep your divorce costs down, dealing with a lengthy custody battle is not the way to go about it. In-court custody battles can be costly, especially if you and your spouse are required to go through counseling, or you bring in experts to bolster your chances of winning a favorable custody arrangement. You'll be required to pay for those experts—who could include your children's teachers or pediatricians.

Your Court Case May Be Public

If you or your spouse have dirty laundry that you don't want aired to the public, you should avoid a courtroom custody battle. Once your case goes to court, it becomes a matter of public record. That means your courtroom battle may be open for the public to come and watch (although judges can order closed hearings in order to protect the children's privacy).

Your Children May Be Required To Testify

If your children are old enough, the courts may require them to come and testify during the custody hearings. That can be a traumatic experience for your children, especially if they have a good and loving relationship with both of their parents.

If you and your spouse are going through a divorce, you need to try to work out a custody arrangement that you can both agree on. Courtroom battles can be costly and stressful for everyone involved. If you have questions about how to solve your custody issues, you should speak to your divorce attorney as soon as possible. For more information, consider contacting an attorney like those at Kleveland Law.