How to avoid a custody BATTLE?

First you need to contact legal aid and see if they will do the custody for you. Some states they do and some they do not. That way you know if you will have a lawyer or not through them. Next, you can make it joint custody with you getting final say if you cannot decide on something. Make sure you get physical custody otherwise it becomes a mess. Also, make sure in the papers it states the exact days he is to have the child. Days and times. Also, put something in there about when the child starts school and then the new visitation rules as all that will change once the child starts school. I would look into a head start type of program once the child is old enough that way you get childcare at a reduced cost for the times of the head start.