What can I do to maximize my chances of winning custody of my child when my wife and I get divorced?

There has been a preconceived idea for a long time that dads custody is unusual. In fact, during a divorce, either parent can get custody of the child, depending on the situation in that particular family.

When getting a divorce, the best thing to do would be to try to get your wife to agree to a custody agreement. If you two can work with a mediator and with each other to decide on a parenting plan and a custody agreement, the court will approve it. Most courts strongly encourage this because not only is it less expensive, but there's also a better chance you'll end up with the custody agreement that is right for your family if you come up with it yourself.

Of course, if you can't come up with an agreement, then the best way to win custody of your child is to make a very strong argument to the court for why you should have custody. The court is going to make a custody decision based on what is in a child's best interests, and you will have to show the judge that staying with you (either primarily or all the time) is the best thing for your child. To do this, you should show the court things like:

• The fact that you have been the child's primary caregiver or that your child has a better relationship with you than with his mother
• That you can provide a more solid and stable and supportive environment
• That you can better support the child, both emotionally and financially
• That living with you will allow the child to maintain his extended family ties and his ties with the community

If the court decides that it is in the child's best interests to grant either primary or sole custody to you, then the court will put that custody agreement into place.  To get help convincing the court to do this, you should strongly consider speaking with a lawyer as soon as you begin contemplating divorce.