This is the next post in my series on the rights of Las Vegas fathers who have never been married to the child’s mother. My last article discussed why fathers should obtain a child custody order as soon as possible. It is important to understand that, without an order in place, one is not guaranteed to receive visitation at a given time, regardless of how the parties have previously conducted themselves. By obtaining an order, a set structure will be put in place. In this article I will discuss how a dad may use “discovery” when building their case. If you require assistance then contact my office today to speak with a lawyer.
I have previously discussed the use of discovery in emergency custody modification cases. These same tools can be used in matters where a dad is attempting to establish an initial custody order. When making a custody determination, the Clark County Family Court will only be concerned with protecting the best interests of the child. Discovery can be used to explore the fitness of a mother to parent, the mom’s ability to provide for the child, and more. The type of discovery conducted on any given case will depend on the facts of the situation.
Say, for example, that a dad wishes to obtain primary custody due to the mother’s alcoholism. It is not enough to simply claim that the mom is an alcoholic. The dad will require proof. Discovery can be used to require that the mom disclose any instances in which she has been arrested or reprimanded at work due to intoxication. Also, it will be possible to obtain the mom’s bank records. These can show whether the mother has a history of making ATM withdrawals at bars and the frequency of such activity. Also, it is possible to obtain emails, phone records, and other correspondence which can show a pattern of addiction issues.
If you are involved in a Las Vegas child custody dispute then it is important to speak with a fathers’ rights lawyer who is familiar with handling such matters. A case is not won with “surprise” evidence at trial. Instead, it is necessary to methodically build a case and acquire the evidence needed to present your entire situation to the Judge. As a fathers’ rights lawyer I have extensive experience in handling such matters. I pride myself on providing the highest levels of service and my office is ready to assist you. Contact us today to schedule an initial consultation.