How To Communicate With Your Ex Over Child Custody Matters

If you are involved in a custody dispute with your partner, you will need to communicate. However, if you communicate through text and email, you may leave behind a valuable record of your communication but you may also say something that can jeopardize your case. When communicating with your partner, there are several things you should keep in mind.

Speak with Your Attorney About What to Say

Before saying anything to your ex, consider having your attorney look at it. If you do this, your attorney may be able to identify a problem with something you are saying. An attorney can also help you be clear in your communications and get straight to the point. 

You might be tempted to talk to your ex about the past. However, doing so can increase the risk that you will get emotional and say something that could affect your case negatively. You also do not want to alienate your ex because this will increase the odds that your ex will not want to cooperate with you. 

Ask for Advice from Your Attorney When Making Legal Threats

You do not want to threaten your partner because this can be used against you in court unless you are issuing a legal threat. You should speak with your attorney about the best ways in which you might be able to issue a legal threat. Even with legal threats, you will want these to be a last resort. 

Instead, you will want to be polite to your ex-partner. Not only will this help deescalate a situation, but it will also look better to the courts. Try to remain professional so that your partner understands that you are being serious with regards to your child custody discussion.

Avoid Wasting Time By Stating the Obvious

For example, if you are asking your partner to fulfill an obligation regarding a court order, your partner will already know about the court order and you will not need to explain the details of the court order. Also, you will not want to allow your partner to stall by discussing aspects of your child custody arrangement that are not relevant.

If your partner does not seem like they are acting in good faith, this might lead to your custody arrangement being modified by the court. Then, you will not only send a message to your partner but will be able to enjoy a custody arrangement that you prefer.

For more information about working with a child custody attorney, contact a local attorney that offers these services, like Kenneth J. Molnar.


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