Child Custody

What Is Child Custody

A custody award in Oklahoma can be:

• Sole custody
• Joint custody
• Split custody

Oklahoma does not prefer one arrangement over the other, nor does Oklahoma favor one gender in awarding custody in a divorce. There are two types of custody in Oklahoma:

• Legal Custody: Legal custody is when the parent or, jointly, parents get to determine the decisions for the children about what, for example, extracurricular activities, religion, doctors, and other matters that the child will attend or participate in.
• Physical Custody: Physical custody is where the child is physically located.

Both types of custody can be independent of one another. For example, even when one parent is awarded sole legal custody of the child for decision-making purposes, the other parent may still receive some visitation with the child giving them some physical custody.

Five Tips To Help Win Custody And Prepare For Trial In Oklahoma

You need evidence. Many cases hinge on one person saying one thing and the other saying another. If you have evidence to support your position, a court is more likely to believe your story. Common but effective ways to gather evidence and prepare for the trial are:

1. Communicate through text messages: By communicating in writing all communication you have with your Ex is documented and can be used as evidence if needed. It will also prevent your Ex from misstating anything you have said and include a timestamp of the conversation. Always remain cordial and remember that anything you send may be read by a judge.
2. Limit social media usage: Posting photos and your status might be fun, but they can all be used against you. It is often smarter to not post anything because an event that might have been fun for you could be misconstrued and give a negative impression.
3. Start a journal: By writing down everything you are ensured that you will not forget when or how something occurred. Many times people will actually get a calendar and put things on it as events occur. When the trial comes, this calendar is very beneficial and shows supporting evidence that your story is accurate and true.
4. Take photos: Take photos of your child, your home, and any place you frequently take your child, such as daycare. These photos can be used to contradict any claim that your child is in danger in your custody.
5. Use audio recordings: In Oklahoma only one party needs to know that a conversation is being recorded. There are many free apps that you can download to record a conversation or a fight. Any time you interact with your Ex record the interaction. This can be used as evidence at trial if your stories do not match up.