Find an adequate / safe living environment to help get Custody of your Child.

This might seem obvious, but it is a stumbling block for many parents. If you live in a home with one bedroom, an infant in a bassinet might make sense, but you may have a hard time convincing a judge that you can sleep three teenagers comfortably.

You should try to find something that has age appropriate bedroom situations, allows older boys and girls to sleep separately, and an environment that avoids over crowding.

Most importantly, try to find housing and a living situation which is comparable to or better than what you had while living with the children's other parent. It is hard for a parent to complain to the judge that your new place is better than or at least equal to the marital home.

Of course everything is relative, and your financial means may limit your flexibility. So no matter where you move, try to keep it clean, neat, and habitable. Modest housing that is clean and neat is what most custody judges will expect. Even if you must rent a less than perfect abode, and the opposing parent has that, "nice house in the country", adequate sleeping areas, and good housekeeping will keep you on equal footing.

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TIP #2 - Stay in the same school district

10 ways to better your chances of getting custody.

1. Find an adequate / safe living environment.
2. Stay in the same school district
3. Find a job / work schedule that fits the children’s routine.
4. Avoid cohabitation too soon in a new relationship
5. Find and keep stability in all aspects of your life.
6. Hire  a lawyer who knows custody and who you can afford.
7. Put the children’s needs above the custody fight.
8. Don’t involve the children in the custody fight.
9. Facilitate the opposing party’s custody as much as possible.
10. Know your own limits and needs.

• Delaware - 13 Del. C. §§ 1901 to 1925
• Florida - Fla. Stat. §§ 61.1302 to 61.1348
• Hawaii - HRS §§ 583-1 to 583-26
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Kentucky -K.R.S. §§ 403.400 to 403.630
• Maryland - Code, Family Law, §§ 9-201 to 9-224
• Massachusetts

• Mississippi - Code, Title 93, Ch. 23
• Missouri - V.A.M.S. §§ 452.440 to 452.550
• Nebraska - §§ 43-1201 to 43-1225.
• Nevada
• New Hampshire §§ 458-A
• New Jersey -  N.J.S.A. §§ 2A:34-28 to 2A:34-52
• Ohio - R.C. §§ 3109.21 to 3109.37
• Pennsylvania

• Rhode Island
• South Carolina - Code 1976, §§ 20-7-782 to 20-7-830
• South Dakota
• Vermont
• Virgin Islands - V.I. Code Title 16, Ch. 4
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

• Alabama - Code 1975, §§ 30-3-20 to 30-3-44
• Alaska - Ch. 25.30.300 to 25.30.910
• Arizona - A.R.S. §§ 25-431 to 25-454
• Arkansas - Title 9, Ch. 19
• California - Division 8, Part 3
• Colorado - C.R.S.A. Title 14, Art. 13
• Connecticut
• District of Columbia - D.C. Code Division II, Title 16, Ch. 46
• Georgia - O.C.G.A. §§ 19-9-40 to 19-9-64
• Idaho - I.C. §§ 32-1101 to 32-1126

• Iowa
• Kansas - K.S.A. §§ 38-1336 to 38-1377
• Maine
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Montana
• New Mexico - NMSA Ch. 40, Art. 10A
• New York - Domestic Relations, Art. 5-A
• North Carolina - G.S. §§  50A-1 to 50A-25
• North Dakota (PDF) - NDCC 14-14-01 to 14-14-26

• Oklahoma - Okl.St.Ann. §§ 551-101 to 551-402.
• Oregon - ORS §§ 109.700 to 109.930
• Tennessee - Tenn. Code Title 36, Ch. 6, Part 2
• Texas
• Utah
• Virginia - Title 20, Chapter 7.1
• Washington - RCW 26.27.010 to 26.27.910