Child custody can be a thorny issue for parents and things are not helped by the fact that there are different laws and guidelines in each state does not help. Paternity issues affect women and children as well as men. Although men and fatherhood are at the heart of the issue, figuring out paternity influences everyone involved and society as a whole. Child custody and paternity go hand in hand, and anyone who is involved in a paternity case should be aware of the child custody aspect that will follow. Here are some child custody guidelines to consider along with paternity.

Technology can establish paternity with over ninety-nine percent accuracy. The paternity test is usually a simple DNA test–a saliva swab is taken from the man and the child–that matches the father to the child. This makes establishing paternity pretty cut and dry. The man is or isn’t the father. However, the ramifications from the test aren’t nearly as simple. This is only one aspect of custody cases. There are many custody cases where the issue or paternity is not in question.

Parents should follow the custody guideline to figure out a custody and visitation agreement that works for them. This will save them a lot of money and hassle by not having to keep going to court. If they can work out an arrangement the court will merely accept it. If the couple has a hard time agreeing, they can consider going to custody mediation.

Usually the father pays child support, but the custody guideline is that the parent who doesn’t live with the children pays child support and that amount is somewhat based on how much time both parents have with the children. If a father wants to lower his support payments, he can offer to make a joint custody arrangement with the mother or take more time with the children. If he is only looking to save some money, this isn’t the best arrangement. But, if he genuinely wants to see his children more, this is a good way to handle the issue.

Getting Child custody especially for fathers is a difficult and often stressful task. Prior to the 1970’s, custody was often vested with the mothers as the courts were guided by the tender years doctrine. The tender years doctrine presumed that during a child’s tender years (which has been regarded as thirteen years old and under) the custody of the child should be with the mother. 

However, in the 20th century the courts began shifting away from the tender years doctrine (which violated the Equal Protection Clause in the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution) to the best interests of the child standard. The laws about getting custody are different in each state, but for most states, the best interest of the child standard became the public policy and the law by which the family courts were to be guided and how the family courts were to determine child custody awards.

In situations where child custody is left for the court to decide, fathers are proving to the court to be the more emotionally stable parent who can provide the better living environment for their children. In some situations, mothers are not able to afford the often protracted and expensive child custody battle or the mother is more interested in pursuing a career. Regardless of the situation, more fathers are getting custody of their kids whether it be by mutual agreement between the parents or by a decision from the court.

When you have separated or divorced from your spouse, you will need to determine where your children will live, and how often they will see the other parent. One of the best things you can do to secure custody of your children is to request an order of temporary child custody. As the name suggests  temporary child custody refers to the awarding of child custody for a short time, while the parents organise their situation. Temporary custody can lead to permanent custody, so be careful when you are considering allowing your soon to be ex spouse to have temporary custody of your child.

Child custody is one of the most important parts of the separation process. Seperations are made even more difficult when children are involved. While you are in the process of divorcing or separating from your husband/wife/partner, your children still needs care and a place to live. In many cases, custody will be awarded to the parent who seems the most reasonable, and the most likely to adhere to the custody agreement. Remember that the decision of custody will be based on what is best for the child, not what is best for the parent. It is important that you show how you can and will put the childs requirements first.

Joint custody is usually the preferred route, though very small children may have only a sole physical residence (sole physical custody). The best way to work out your separation and child custody is to make arrangements that both parents can live with. If you are unwilling or unable to reach an agreement with your soon to be former spouse, the court will decide one for you and it will be completely out of your control, that may not be a situation you are happy with. The other side to that is that if your spouse is totally unwilling to meet you half way, the court can also force them to compromise. When you make the decision to separate from your spouse, you should begin planning your child custody case, temporary and permanent.

Joint Custody Child Support!

If you are recently divorced or in the middle of a divorce? Maybe you are not even married, but you have a child with someone and you know that the issue of joint custody child support is going to come up. This is an issue that can be dealt with in a civil way or you can deal with it in a less than civil way. Here is how to make sure your children do not suffer due to joint custody and child support.

The first thing we have to discuss is how you can keep this from ever going to court. This can save you a ton of money and still be done in a legal manner. You and the other parent of your child will need to agree on what the joint custody agreement and child support agreement are going to be and get it put in writing by a lawyer. This is very important because if there is ever a reason to go to court over it you will need this agreement in writing.

The next thing you have to do is make sure you are both going to be civil with each other and understand that compromise is important. Sometimes you have to give a little to get a lot in return and this might not be easy, but you have to be willing to work together for your children. They are the ones that will be most effected in the long run so make sure you come up with a fair agreement that everybody is happy with and, then be willing to be flexible sometimes if necessary.

The last thing you need is a guide that will help you set all this up. You can find many custody and child support guides right online that will help you out tremendously. They will advise you on how to work everything out and how to make the agreement work. Just remember that there are children involved that are innocent and need two parents so the better you work it out and the more civil you are the happier they will be. [http://www.squidoo.com/LegalChildCustody]Click Here to discover all the secrets you need to know about gaining more [http://www.squidoo.com/LegalChildCustody]Child Custody!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Darrin_Force [http://ezinearticles.com/?Joint-Custody-Child-Support---It-is-Not-Easy,-But-it-Can-Be-Civil!&id=2089216 ]http://EzineArticles.com/?Joint-Custody-Child-Support—It-is-Not-Easy,-But-it-Can-Be-Civil!&id=2089216