Custody battles can get heated. Quite often, parents find themselves going after each other in the courtroom for full custody. However, courts do not like to see parents bashing each other. They would rather see parents highlight their own attributes and reasons why they're the better choice, which is what you should strive to do. In the instance that your co-parent is unfit or a danger to the children, it may be in your best interest to present information that proves they are unfit. Your word won't do. You have to compile admissible evidence. Following are some tips for doing just that.  

Find Your Reasons

A gut feeling that your co-parent is up to no good or differences in parenting styles does not warrant an unfit parent case. Courts do not care about your feelings on the matter. They also don't care if your ex lets them stay up too late or eat too much candy. To be unfit, they must have a history of violence, emotional abuse, drug or alcohol abuse, or conviction for sexual offense. They may also be ruled unfit if they consistently place the children in danger or if their home is dangerous. 

Gather Admissible Evidence

Courts love a paper trail. If you can find court documents, police records, or other official documents outlining the other parent's criminal history or substance abuse issues, you should include them as evidence in your case. If you don't have documents, you should gather other forms of tangible evidence, such as pictures and video recordings. Testimony from neighbors, coworkers, etc. may also be helpful. The bottom line is to find evidence for every point you want to make. Is your ex's home dangerous? If so, you should have pictures to prove it. 

Call in Professionals

Don't be afraid to get professional testimony from your child's therapist or a psychologist to help build your case. These types of testimony are especially helpful if you feel like your child is being emotionally abused by their other parent. Tangible evidence in these cases is often hard to get. However, a therapist can tell the court about what the child is experiencing behind the scenes as a result of the other parent's involvement in their life. 

Proving an unfit parent case is difficult in a litigation case. To prove a parent unfit, you need lots of evidence that will show the court what type of parent they are. Leave no stone unturned when gathering evidence for this type of case.