As a stay-at-home parent, you have a good question. You want to know if you can keep custody of your child despite having stayed at home with no job over the last several years. During that time, you relied on your spouse to provide you with the support you needed. Now, you’ll need to find work and ways to support yourself.
Divorcing as a stay-at-home parent can be frustrating and scary, but you should know that most court now start off by assuming that both parents will share custody. To improve your odds of having the custody arrangements that you’d like, you should do the following.
- Get your financial documents in order
If you have a part-time job or have a new source of income, you should have that financial documentation ready for the court. Show that you have access to funds or explain how you’re going to be able to provide a stable home for your child.
- Have evidence of a stable home where your child is the priority
Whether you’ve moved home to your parents’ house or you have your own apartment, you should show the court that you do have a room for your child and that it’s furnished to provide a space for them. The goal is to prove that you have a stable home environment for your child, even if you’re not currently working.
- Make a plan for the future
You should consider making a plan for the future, too. Explain how you’ll support your child. Will you go back to work? Do you have spousal support? Will you attend college or schooling to get more education and return to work in a new field? By showing how you’ll make positive changes, as well as how you’ll manage custody if you return to work, you’ll make a good impression.
These are a few things you can do to help your case. The most important thing to remember is that you need to do what’s in your child’s best interests. As a stay-at-home parent, you have a strong relationship with your child, so it is necessary to take steps to avoid having that relationship disrupted.