This step is important if the judge wishes to talk to your children in private or if your children are required to testify in court. Let your children know what they should expect to happen so that they won t be scared. You only need to explain that the judge wants to ask your children a few questions so that he can better understand the situation. This applies to couples who are separated, divorced, or never married. How is physical custody different from legal custody? Physical custody means the child would spend time living with that parent on a regular basis. If it is a joint physical custody , the child shuttles between each parent s homes. Here, mothers can file a petition against the father on behalf of the child asking him to prove his biological paternity (and his legal fatherhood of same). If it is proven, mothers has the right to ask for child support, medical and health insurance of the child, a share in the medical expenses during birth, and pay a portion of the mother s legal expenses. Here, you can read first hand information from people who have done it themselves so you will learn how will you get started on your own child custody battle. Making the child understand child custody For some, there is no more heart breaking than to see a child suffer from the decisions that adults do. If you leave all the parenting duties to the other parent, then you will lose the custody of your children. Keep a calendar for everything. You should know the details about when your ex-spouse was unable to pick up or drop off your kids, when you had the kids, and the events you attended. Be flexible to allow room for adjustments. Studies also show that though motivation from other people helps a lot, it is best if one starts with motivating him or herself. This is because if one knows how to motivate him or herself, that person would be able to make decisions that would affect his or her life in the future. Getting all the help that you need In order to cope with the loss of child custody case, the first thing that needs to be done is by developing a positive outlook in life.