Growing numbers of men are no longer content to see their children a few times a month after a Pasadena separation and divorce. Unfortunately, men who want to continue to be involved parents after their marriage ends often face a legal system that is not always sympathetic to their needs.
Perhaps the most helpful tip for fathers to remember is to never bring child support payments up when custody and visitation are being discussed. Many people still assume that a man's primary motivation for wanting to spend more time with his children is to avoid paying child support. Keep the two issues separate and focus on your abilities as a parent.
If you're not happy with your current visitation schedule, draw up a detailed calendar that shows why. For example, visits on alternate weekends and one night per week don't sound too bad until you see that there will be two times per month when your child goes seven full days without seeing you. If you were an actively involved father during your marriage, this is going to be a drastic change for your child.
Even if your child's mother is fighting you every step of the way, try your hardest to keep your cool. Judges like to see a man who is committed to a positive co-parenting relationship, especially when his ex can't seem to let go of her divorce-related bitterness.
Although many fathers do try to handle custody issues on their own to save on attorney fees, it's well worth the expense to seek out the assistance of a family law lawyer with experience in advocating for fathers. You can ask other divorced fathers you know for recommendations, but you should definitely plan on doing an initial consultation with several different lawyers so you can choose someone who is sympathetic to your concerns.
How Can We Help?
If you are a divorced father seeking additional time with your child, please call our office at (626) 683-8113 or email us at info@PasadenaLawOffice.com. Our team of skilled Pasadena family law attorneys is committed to helping men make sure they are able to maintain a positive relationship with their children regardless of their marital status.