When parents separate or divorce, a child custody lawyer is necessary to help navigate the process. A good attorney can make the process as smooth as possible, protect the rights of both parties and ensure that any children involved are well cared for.
Depending on the situation, there are different types of custody cases. Legal decision-making is one type of custody, where the court determines what decisions are made for the child (like health care, education and welfare). Physical custody is another, where the court decides where the children will live primarily (and sometimes when they will be with each parent).
Many custody cases involve both legal decision-making and physical custody. In these situations, the judge may award two parents joint custody with equal parenting time. This type of arrangement works best when the parents can cooperate and communicate well together. If the courts believe that a particular parent is not able to provide a safe, healthy and stable environment for the child, they may award sole custody to one of the parents. In such a case, the other parent will be granted access rights, which can range from liberal to highly restricted.
The court will consider a variety of factors in making its decision, including each parent’s lifestyle and stability, the quality of their home environment, whether there is any domestic violence, and the relationship the child has with each parent. The court will also give weight to the preference of the child, who can express his or her wishes through the attorney for the child.
In contested custody cases, it is important for both parents to be able to provide the court with specific evidence regarding their ability to provide a positive living environment for the child. This includes submitting information about the child’s schedule, performance in school, extracurricular activities and social life. A child custody attorney can help parents gather and organize this evidence and present it in a way that will convince the court to grant them custody or visitation. If you are looking for a skilled Child Custody Attorney, visit https://www.phoenixfamilylawyers.net/child-custody/ for guidance and Free Consultation!
Custody and visitation arrangements often need to be modified as children grow up, parents’ work schedules change and other circumstances arise. To obtain a modification, one of the parents must show that there has been a significant change in circumstances since the last custody order was issued. This could include a move out of state, a new spouse gaining significant financial resources that will affect custody, or the emergence of a health or safety risk.
Dodge & Vega PLC at Law in Phoenix represents both mothers and fathers in custody and visitation matters, including unmarried parents. We also assist fathers in establishing paternity and obtaining legally enforceable parental rights. We also represent step-parents seeking visitation rights for their stepschildren. We never recommend that parents agree to any type of custody or visitation agreement without first consulting a family law attorney. In addition, it is illegal for a parent to withhold access from the other party based on non-payment of child support.