One of the hardest aspects of divorce is deciding where the children will live. Even if parents agree on which person will be the primary caregiver, they may not agree on visitation, housing choices, or other aspects of child custody. If they cannot compromise, a judge will make the final decision on how custody is awarded after divorce in a custody hearing. 
How to Prepare for Your Child Custody Hearing
Fighting for custody of your children can be stressful, and it is important that you have an experienced divorce attorney on your side to help you through the process.
To make the best case in your custody hearing, it is vital that you:
Bring completed documents and forms.
You may be asked to submit a variety of forms, including your parenting plan, declaration in support of the parenting plan, order of child support, child support schedule, and financial declaration. Bring copies of these forms in case you need to refer to them.
Prepare for questioning.
Your attorney should prepare you to answer any questions the judge or opposing attorney may ask. These may include questions about your work, home life, lifestyle, hobbies, income, relationship status, and other personal details.
Bring witnesses.
If you are planning to call witnesses to the stand, these people should be in attendance and ready to give testimony. A witness should be someone central to the child’s life (such as a teacher or close relative) who can verify your testimony and support your custody claim.
Stay focused.
Although you are fighting for the well-being of your children, it is important to remain calm and polite during the hearing. You should arrive on time, be respectful to the other parent, and show that you have your children’s best interests at heart.
We work hard to develop child custody and visitation solutions that enable our clients to enjoy rich and meaningful parent-child relationships.
Do You Need To Speak To A Rhode Island Family Law Attorney?
If you need to speak with an experienced Rhode Island divorce family law attorney please contact us online or call our Warwick office directly at 401.946.3200 to schedule your free consultation. We help divorce clients in Providence, Warwick and all areas of Rhode Island.
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