Here’s a hard truth about custody battles. A parent can check out of a marriage and still fight aggressively for custody. Not to parent — but for leverage, control, or financial advantage. Family court doesn’t reward intentions. It looks at patterns. Who showed up. Who handled daily responsibilities. Who was consistently present. That’s why documentation matters. Every missed event, every refusal, every absence. Custody cases are built on evidence, and your child deserves a parent who chooses to