Many parents in the Midwest struggle to find an appropriate work-life balance. While many people want to work as hard as they can to get ahead in life and support their families, this can come at the expense of strong familial relationships. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the child custody context.

For the longest time, family courts tended to favor parents who were able to spend the most amount of time caring for their children. This meant that many working parents were left in a noncustodial role with limited visitation. Fortunately, times have changed, and so, too, have the courts’ views. However, while working parents are now much more likely to play an integral role in their children’s lives, they must be diligent in their efforts to appropriately address any child custody and visitation issues that they face.

There are many ways to do this. To start, individuals need to put their children first and refrain from asking for more parenting time than they can accommodate. Thus, parents need to carefully consider their children’s schedules and how they can be met. When an individual over-commits, he or she runs the risk of disappointing his or her children. It can also be extremely helpful to discuss one’s family situation with an employer. This may allow for productive conversations about flexible work schedules.

When it comes to negotiating or litigating a child custody matter, an individual needs to be proactive. A skilled family law professional can assist these parents in developing the legal strategies needed to clearly and convincingly protect their and their children’s best interests.