if im a male and seeking shared custody what gender lawyer should i get

by Savanna White 3 min read

Why hire divorce lawyers for men for custody cases?

Mar 27, 2019 · 5 custody tips for dads that could help fathers get custody of their children. Times are changing fast, gender gaps are filling, and family lawyers for men are trying to defy stigmas in the court and help fathers win full custody of their kids. ... Choose the Right Family Lawyer. A key aspect of winning child custody battle is your family law ...

How to negotiate custody of a child with a mother?

Apr 08, 2015 · Gender and the Client. Some people work better with men, others work better with women. Some clients need a lawyer to keep them in line and moving in the right direction. They need someone who is more of an authority figure, and is not afraid to be hard on them. Others need a lawyer who understands and can relate to them.

What are the facts about child custody for men in America?

Oct 15, 2013 · Some clients prefer litigation; some do not. The approach preferred should help determine the lawyer to hire, but it certainly is not dictated by gender. There are many aggressive female attorneys and, likewise, non-confrontational male lawyers. Most important of all is the lawyer’s expertise in the field.

Can a lawyer help a father win a custody battle?

Jul 02, 2021 · Even though the courts do not discriminate against dads, very few fathers have full custody of their children. According to census records, 17.5% of custodial parents are fathers. 1. Though there can be several reasons why, it can be hard not to be discouraged by this if you're a father seeking full custody.

Do judges favor lawyers because of their gender?

Judges do not favor lawyers because of their gender—not to say that some judges may not give some lawyers what in the legal term we call the benefi...

Should I get a male or a female lawyer for divorce?

The outcome of your divorce doesn’t depend on the gender of a lawyer, but his experience, understanding of the law, and court procedure does. Some...

Will the gender of the opposing lawyer matter to my lawyer?

The gender of the opposing lawyer does not matter to your lawyer but his or her experience in handling the cases will certainly be of concern. Ther...

Questions to ask before hiring a divorce lawyer?

Asking the right kind of questions will help you hire the right kind of divorce lawyer. Following are a few questions to be kept in mind before hir...

Will my divorce lawyer have time for me?

You are not going to like the outcome of your case if you find yourself a divorce lawyer who doesn’t give the sort of time your case requires. If y...

How Gender Of Your Attorney Will Have Very Little Impact On The Final Outcome Of Your Divorce

There are many factors to consider when selecting your divorce or custody lawyer. One of the common concerns is whether or not a divorce litigant will be better off having a male or female divorce lawyer representing him or her.

How To Select A Divorce Lawyer

The important thing you should do is interview several potential lawyers and select the one that is the best fit for you. You should select a divorce lawyer who you are most comfortable with and with whom you are at ease in talking about your case.

What happens if you hire a lawyer who is skilled at negotiation but lousy in a courtroom?

If you hire a lawyer who is skilled at negotiation, but lousy in a courtroom, and you end up going to trial, you are going to get screwed. You have to hire the right lawyer for the divorce process you use.

Why do clients need a lawyer?

Some clients need a lawyer to keep them in line and moving in the right direction. They need someone who is more of an authority figure, and is not afraid to be hard on them. Others need a lawyer who understands and can relate to them. They don’t want a lawyer who yells at them.

Do judges give lawyers the benefit of the doubt?

So, judges tend to give the lawyers who appear before them consistently the benefit of the doubt. Strangers may have to prove themselves.

Is it better to be a male or female lawyer?

Male lawyers are no better, tougher, or more difficult to get along with than female lawyers. But, even though the gender of the other lawyer in a case is not particularly important, other qualities about that lawyer will makes all the difference in the world.

Do judges care if the lawyers appear before them are male or female?

Do judges care whether the lawyers who appear before them are male or female? Not really. Yes, in some parts of the country there may still be an “old boys network” where judges tend to favor certain lawyers over others, but that favoritism is usually based upon familiarity more than gender.

Do judges favor lawyers?

Yes, in some parts of the country there may still be an “old boys network” where judges tend to favor certain lawyers over others, but that favoritism is usually based upon familiarity more than gender. Judges tend to give the lawyers who appear before them consistently the benefit of the doubt.

Who is Karen Covy?

Karen Covy is a family law attorney, mediator, advisor, and the author of When Happily Ever After Ends: How to Survive Your Divorce Emotionally, Financially, and Legally.

What do judges ask about custody?

For example, a judge may ask questions about living accommodations, the child's education (including after-school activities), and financial preparedness.

What does it mean to have full custody of a child?

In the absence of concerns such as abuse or substance use issues, when awarding full custody to one parent is best, this often means maintaining contact and relationships with both parents. Whether you are a father going for full custody or joint custody, you should do everything you can to prepare for the child custody negotiation ahead of you.

How to keep track of your visitation?

One way to keep track of your visitations is to use a calendar or a child custody app. Look for apps that include a time and date stamp as these are considered reliable pieces of evidence in court and lend credibility to your argument.

How many custodial parents are fathers?

According to census records, 17.5% of custodial parents are fathers. 1. Though there can be several reasons why, it can be hard not to be discouraged by this if you're a father seeking full custody. While the process can be challenging, it is not impossible. Most judges try to ensure that the decisions they make are in the best interest ...

Why is it important to have a visitation record?

Having an accurate record of your visitation schedule is an important part of trying to win child custody. Visitation records not only show how often you see your children under the current arrangements, but they also demonstrate your reliability and commitment to your kids.

What does the court look for in a child's life?

In addition to making sure you can take care of a child's basic and practical needs, the court will look for evidence of a meaningful relationship. While you may feel a strong connection with your child, the judge is looking for objective expressions of that as well. For example:

Who is Sean Blackburn?

Sean is a fact checker and researcher with experience in sociology and field research. Learn about our editorial process. Sean Blackburn. Updated on July 02, 2021. Even though the courts do not discriminate against dads, very few fathers have full custody of their children. According to census records, 17.5% of custodial parents are fathers. 1.

Why do men need to settle for child custody in Washington?

Men facing divorce in Washington often feel they need to settle for limited custody because it is expected that children will stay with their mother. At Divorce Lawyers for Men, we will fight for you, the father, to receive the maximum amount of time with your children.

Who gets primary custody of children?

However, it is mothers who are most often awarded with primary custody of the children. In the past, women were nearly always given full custody, and many judges find it difficult to change their ways. The attorneys at Divorce Lawyers for Men have experience in fighting for, and winning, custody cases for fathers.

How often do fathers get custody?

Fathers are granted custody only 18.3% of the time. Mothers are awarded child support nearly 2 times as often as fathers are. Fathers are awarded nearly 10% less, on average, in child support. Fathers receive less of the awarded child support than mothers.

What happens if a dad doesn't get custody of his kids?

When dads don’t get custody of their children they lose out on important parts of their relationship with their kids. Seeing them everyday, asking how their day was, helping them with homework, taking them to after-school activities, and just being there as a dad, all help build that father-child connection.

How many fathers live apart from their children?

More than 25% of fathers live apart from their children. Only 10% of nonresident fathers help their children with their homework. Nearly 60% of fathers who do not get custody, speak to their children on the phone 4 times a month or less.

Who is the best person to answer questions about child custody?

A parent's attorney is the best person to answer any initial questions. For more information about how to win joint custody, speak with a qualified attorney in your state or refer to other references about strategies to help win child custody .

Why do parents have to agree to joint custody?

Because legal decisions will be made jointly, parents who win joint legal custody need to discuss important issues affecting their child's well-being on a regular basis. The Pros and Cons of Joint Legal Custody Between Parents.

What is joint custody?

Joint legal custody allows both parents to make legal decisions for a child such as choosing schools and doctors. Parents interested in a joint legal custody arrangement should first consider the level of communication between themselves and the child's other parent. Because legal decisions will be made jointly, ...

What are the different types of joint custody?

However, there are two different kinds of joint custody: joint legal custody and joint physical custody. Parents may also request a combination of both joint physical and joint legal custody. Parents should consider each option carefully as they prepare for child custody proceedings.

What are some examples of joint custody arrangements?

Some examples of joint physical custody arrangements are: Alternate weekends. Days during the week. Summer vacations. A family court will expect the arrangement to work for both parents as well as the child, considering such things as sporting activities and after-school programs.

Why is it important to have good communication with your child?

It's best to have good communication as it will provide for a better transition for the child. Best interests of the child - A parent should be prepared to determine how a joint custody arrangement will serve the child's best interests.

Who is Debrina Washington?

Debrina Washington is a New York-based family law attorney and writer, who runs her own virtual practice to assist single parents with legal issues. Adah Chung is a fact checker, writer, researcher, and occupational therapist. Separated parents may find themselves in a custody battle striving to win joint custody.

Why do mothers gain custody?

Mothers gain custody because the vast majority of fathers choose to give the mother custody. 4. There is no Family Court bias in favor of mothers for the majority of fathers who divorce. The argument that Men's Rights activists make doesn't hold water. Not based on the statistics above, anyway!

How many custody cases are decided during mediation?

Only 11% of custody cases were decided during mediation with as few as 5% being decided after court order custody evaluations. In cases where both parents decided, without involvement from a mediator or the court 83% of the time the mother ended up with custody because the father chose to give her custody.

What do fathers view themselves as?

Fathers view themselves as breadwinners, the ones who provide for the family. Mothers are viewed as caretakers, the ones who take care of the children. Maybe those views carry over into divorce situations and play a role into the reason more men don't seek more custody and time with their children.

How many times do fathers see their children?

According to the Pew Research study, when fathers and children live separately 22% of fathers see their children more than once a week. Twenty-nine percent of fathers see their children, 1-4 times a month. The most disturbing though, 27% of fathers have no contact with their children.

How many hours does a married father spend on childcare?

A married father spends, on average 6.5 hours a week taking part in primary child care activities with his children. The married mother spends, on average 12.9 hours.

Is there gender bias in custody decisions?

Child Custody: There Is No Gender Bias During Custody Decisions. Cathy Meyer is a certified divorce coach, marriage educator, freelance writer, and founding editor of DivorcedMoms.com. As a divorce mediator, she provides clients with strategies and resources that enable them to power through a time of adversity.

Do mothers get custody of their children during divorce?

It only makes sense that mothers who have a closer bond due to the time spent caring for a child be the one more likely to obtain custody during a divorce. But, with changing attitudes toward child custody fathers are still likely to gain at least 50/50 custody if they are willing to fight for it.

What rights does a father have in a child custody case?

No matter which parent a judge grants physical custody of a child to, a father will be given rights to significant amounts of visitation (parenting time) as well as the rights to attend and receive school information, make doctors’ appointments, and many other decisions in their child’s life.

What is the importance of a custody agreement?

By coming to an agreement, which should include custody arrangements, visitations, decision making and other factors, it can help both parents avoid the costs, frustrations and emotional stress that going to court can bring and help to create a co-parenting environment for the child or children to thrive in.

What is the purpose of a parenting agreement?

In order to help reduce the stress of fighting for custody or visitation in court, many parents will opt to sit down and negotiate a parenting plan or parenting agreement. This parenting agreement will often include a number of details including, but not limited to, the following: Which parent has primary custody.

How to win a father's rights case?

1. Try to Negotiate – Before going to court for a lengthy and expensive custody battle, fathers will want to consider sitting down with the mother of the child and trying to negotiate a parenting agreement or parenting plan (also known as a custody judgment in some states).

What are the first steps an unmarried father must take in order to be granted custody?

One of the first steps that unmarried fathers must take in order to be granted custody or visitation is to establish paternity of the child or children involved. This is done in one of two ways:

What are the rights of a father?

Father’s Rights to Custody and Visitation. Most states have now explicitly rejected the “tender years doctrine,” which stated that a child is best left with the mother for the first 4 years of the child’s life. Many states have also actually written their laws with express wording that states that a father has the same rights as a mother.

Do fathers have to win custody of their children?

But, as gender roles have increasingly shifted, more and more fathers are seeking custody of their children – and winning. Some lawyers are now identifying themselves as “ father’s rights specialists ” and here are their top tips to help fathers win their child custody battles. Keep in mind that the court will make a decision based on what ...

Who gets custody of a child when the parents are unmarried?

Who Gets Child Custody When the Parents are Unmarried? Divorce and separation cases can be complicated to begin with. But when children are involved, they can include settling disputes over custody (who is the main caretaker), visitation (how often and under what specific conditions will the non-custodial parent see the child), ...

What is the best way to get help with child custody?

A knowledgeable and qualified child custody lawyer can help you make sense of the process. They will also inform you of your rights and represent you in court if needed. It is especially important to seek the assistance of an attorney for guidance on interstate child custody issues.

What happens if a stepparent adopts a child?

However, if a stepparent adopts the child, the other biological parent is absolved from this requirement. If the unmarried parents live in different states, child custody decisions are still based on the best interest of the child standard.

What is the UCCJEA?

Under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA), the child’s home state is the court with jurisdiction in custody matters. If the child has lived in a different state for six or months, the home state no longer has jurisdiction.

What is the best course of action for a legal parent?

Legal parents have priority, and the best course of action is to adopt the child. Another issue is child support. The custodial parent has the right to receive financial support from the non-custodial parent, in order to properly care for the shared child. This applies even if the parents are unmarried.

What are the issues with parents who live together but are unmarried?

Parents who live together but are unmarried may face some unique issues, the biggest of which is establishing paternity. Some other issues include parental rights in places such as school and medical facilities, choosing a last name for the child, and claiming the child as dependent on your taxes.

Can a child be born to an unmarried mother?

When a child is born to an unmarried mother, the mother is automatically granted sole custodianship.