Jules
what to do since everything is equal nowadays.....
Anyway the family court normally look at the children's welfare and its surrounding first before giving the verdict.. To improve the chance, the mother can take her children and the maid away from the ILs home n try to settle the children well. Usually if the child is under 1 yr old, the custody of below 1 y.o automatically goes to the mother unless the father prove that the mother is unfit (for eg, drugs, jail, abusive etc).
The sole custody is like care, control and decision-makings in the child's life (schooling, reglious, etc) and the other party has no right in decision-makings for the child.
Joint custody is both parents hv to discuss major things like i mentioned above, for the child whereas the care/control goes to the mother or father who hv the custody.
based on what i could remembered cos i chose to give up my daughter custody since she was in my ex MIL's care since her birth and the father persuaded me to let my daughter go since his mum loves and dotes on her a lot. I hestiated for a long while till i unwillingly gave in. It was the regrettable decision i made in my entire life and this b!%^&#% tricked me and applied for sole custody for jolynn. Now i lost the chance although he said i can visit my daughter anytime. Up to this date, i have not seen my daughter for close to 6 years.