Are you curious how to avoid many legal problems?
Moreover, I can show you how to steer clear of the courthouse and prevent life problems.
Additionally, a strategy could increase your odds of persuading a judge to award joint custody.
The Best Advice for Joint Custody article by Oklahoma Fathers Rights Attorney Pete D. Louden can guide your next steps.
Listen to the Teacher!
I like to keep things simple. There are no extra points for over-complicating legal matters. One of my general themes is “don’t make it harder than it needs to be.”
When thinking about legal strategy, it is easy to get lost amid thousands of pages of statutes and case law. Additionally, the Best Advice for Joint Custody Oklahoma Fathers Rights Attorney emphasizes you must know all that material. This search for that elusive strategy can be overwhelming. But that is not what keeps things simple. The way to keep things simple is to look to alternative sources.
I thought what better place to look than to go back to the very beginning.
In keeping with this theme, I visited with an elementary school teacher to talk about class rules.
My goals were twofold: First, I wondered how things have changed since I was there over fifty years ago.
Second, I tested whether kindergarten lessons could influence complex custody outcomes.
This idea echoes Best Advice for Joint Custody Oklahoma Fathers Rights Attorney.
The Class Rules
Visit any elementary school, and you will find a list of classroom rules. Additionally, there may be variation by teacher and administration, but it will look like the following.
- Listen and follow instructions.
- Show up on time ready to work.
- One voice at a time.
- Respect each other and each other’s property.
- Keep your hands, feet, and objects to yourself.
- Speak politely and show good manners.
- Treat others as you would like to be treated.
It sounds simple, right? It’s certainly not rocket science. However, we all remember the few knuckleheads who never quite figured it out.
OK, So What Does Any Of This Have to Do With My Custody Case?
Damn Near Everything!!
If you want Joint Custody you have to demonstrate you can work with the other parent and co-parent. How do you co-parent? Simple, follow the class rules. Let’s walk through these and see how we can leverage the rules to have the best chance to get what you want in court.
- Listen and follow instructions: Listen to your attorney and follow their advice. Listen to the Judge and follow court orders. Understand and follow the provisions of the Automatic Temporary Injunction.
- Show up on time ready to work: Be on time for hearings, visitation exchanges, school conferences, appointments, and the child’s activities. There is no excuse for being late, period!
- One voice at a time: You don’t have to agree with the other parent, but you should listen to what they have to say if you want to present a joint custody case. Many times, when the other parent is talking, rather than listening, the other parent is instead thinking about what they are going to say next. A lot of conflict can be avoided by simply listening.
- Respect each other and each other’s property. The kids see how parents treat each other. If you want your kids to respect themselves and others, show respect to the other parent.
- Keep your hands, feet, and objects to yourself: Want to avoid domestic violence, many criminal charges, and VPO’s? Follow this simple rule.
- Speak politely, show good manners, and treat others as you would like to be treated: This pretty much says it all, no need to elaborate.
Summary:
Co-parenting is a REQUIREMENT for a joint custody case. If you can’t co-parent, you probably don’t have a case appropriate for joint custody.
Is that fair? No, but fair (actually fare) is what you pay to ride the bus not how custody cases are decided.
How do you co-parent?
Finally, Best Advice for Joint Custody Oklahoma Fathers Rights Attorney can help.
Support our educators! Yes, your kindergarten teacher really did know best and she will save your ass in court if you listen and follow the class rules!
Pete D. Louden Updated: September 23, 2026
Pete D. Louden has been a family law attorney in Norman, Oklahoma since 1998. His practice focuses on representing men and fathers in divorce, child custody, visitation, paternity, and child support matters. Additionally, he has extensive experience in settlements, mediations, and complex high-conflict divorce and custody trials. Copyright 2026. Pete D. Louden. All Rights Reserved. Email: Petelouden@normanlaw.com | Telephone: 405-919-8355 | Website: www.normanlaw.com.
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