When Minnesota couples are embroiled in heated divorce and property division proceedings children are sometimes caught in the middle. Other times, emotions can interfere with a parent's better judgment. Yet parents most often want the best for their kids, so it is important to make sure both parents take the right steps to see that a favorable child custody arrangement is created.
Couples often get wrapped-up in verbal arguments when they are going through divorce. One of the worst things a spouse can do is create an environment in which the other spouse feels intimidated or endangered because of frequent arguments. A family court judge will likely side with your spouse if they interpret your behavior as threatening.
Another way a divorcing Minnesotan can help to maintain their chances of obtaining custody is by being mindful of their other relationships. In general, it is not a good idea to expose the children to or move in with a new significant other during the middle of divorce proceedings. Additionally, it is not wise to say bad things about your spouse to friends or family. By failing to be thoughtful about how you interact with others during a divorce, your claim for custody can be sunk.
Finally, make sure you keep open lines of communication with your spouse, especially when it concerns your children. After divorce, parenting is often still a joint venture, so you should allow your kids to speak with your ex-spouse and ensure you relay any important plans for your children. For example, if you take your kids out of town without your spouse's knowledge, it can be used as fodder in family court.
Children often benefit from maintaining relationships with both parents, so it is best to make sure both spouses do their part to make sure child custody and visitation arrangements protect the best interests of the child. Though divorcing couples may have many points of contention with each other, it is important that disputes between you and your spouse do not negatively affect your children.
Source: The Huffington Post, "Ways To Sabotage Child Custody," Joseph E. Cordell, April 2, 2012
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