What Questions Get Asked In Family Court
Family courts specialize in resolving conflicts among parents or individuals holding parental duties for kids. Family Court is equipped to handle any case or legal action associated with the following:
- Parental disputes over the upbringing of children
- Adoption
- Special guardianship
- Surrogacy
- Financial support for children after divorce
- Decrees relating to divorce
- Local authority intervention to protect children
- Forced marriage protection
If you face a child custody battle, then the family court will expect each parent to put forward their case and ask several questions to determine what child custody agreement works the best for the children involved.
What Questions Get Asked During a Child Custody Hearing?
Some questions you should expect to hear during a child custody hearing include:
1. What is Your Financial Status?
A judge will always inquire into the parents’ financial status and resources to determine who can care for the children’s basic financial needs such as shelter and food. You should be prepared to provide evidence on your income to the Family Court, as the judge will determine whether sole or joint custody suits the children’s needs.
2. What Type of Custody Agreement Are You Looking to Obtain?
Both parents will be asked about the type of custody agreement they’re seeking during a child custody hearing. Usually, the court prefers a joint custody arrangement because it serves the interests of the children, allowing them to keep close contact with both parents. However, if a parent is looking to obtain sole custody, they must be prepared to provide enough evidence as to why the other parent should not have custody.
Separately, parents who can compromise on their custody arrangements without turning the decision-making over to the judge are strongly encouraged to do so. So long as the agreement is in the best interests of the children, the parents may settle custody by private agreement.
3. What is the Parents’ Level of Communication With One Another?
As previously mentioned, most judges tend to offer both parents custody, assuming that spending time with both parents will serve the child’s best interests. However, to grant both parents custody, the judge will most likely ask about the parent’s level of communication with one another. Suppose a judge determines a joint custody arrangement is the best option. In that case, the parents will need to keep close communication about decisions that may impact the child’s day-to-day life or about the child’s upbringing, including religious affiliation, education, healthcare provider, and so on.
Arizona applies a co-parenting model regarding child custody. So if the parents seek joint custody, they are required by law to submit a written parenting plan to the court.
4. Are There Any Existing Arrangements?
During child custody, the judge will ask if there is any formal or informal current custody arrangement and determine whether some parts of these arrangements are not working. If there are any current custody arrangements, make sure to mention them, as the court doesn’t want to interfere with a custody arrangement that may seem to work.
If you are struggling with a family law custody battle, you may want to seek legal representation to guide you. Dealing with such an unfortunate event may be hard enough for you, so it is highly advised to seek the help of a family law attorney. According to https://www.cosmasonyia.com/
there are different types of child custody that exist in Arizona, so having legal representation by your side may make a difference.