Family Law Attorney: Helping with Child Custody Issues

The field of family law covers a wide variety of issues, with the most common one being child custody matters. Since your emotions can definitely run higher when it comes to your kids and divorce, it is important to have the assistance of a professional in the courtroom to make sure your concerns are heard. Learn what you need to know about the service a family law attorney can give you.

If you are a parent who has gone through a divorce, the divorce decree will stipulate who gets to keep the children. You and your spouse can work out a plan together, which is usually the best course. Smetimes, however, you will not be able to come to an agreement, so the court will make the decision for you, based on what is presumed to be best for him or her. If your child is quite young, the judge may award primary custody to the mother, as she is often the child's main caretaker during his or her early years. In addition, many psychologists feel it is important not to interfere with the mother-child bond as it can cause psychological damage later on in life. If you and your spouse can work together to make this decision, however, there are several different options to choose from.

Usually one parent is awarded physical custody of the child for most of the time, with the other parent being given visitation rights, such as on weekends or during the summer. Both parents are legal custodians, which means they can make important decisions together regarding things like education, healthcare, and religion. You may choose to have joint custody, in which case your kid spends an equal amount of time with each parent. However, this option is difficult to carry out unless you and your ex-spouse are extremely motivated and on good terms with each other. Split custody is yet another option, although this can be complicated when you two or more children as it splits up the siblings. As a result, judges are reluctant to award this option.

If you are no longer satisfied with the arrangements that were established, you can try to have them changed. Before you spend additional money hiring a family law attorney and going to court, however, you should consider the benefits of mediation. This includes a more open and relaxed environment in which to discuss any issues you may be having, which can lead to increased cooperation between you and your ex-spouse. In fact, any changes in your agreement could be implemented immediately as the mediation process moves things along quicker than a courtroom proceeding could. By using mediation to communicate with your ex, you can keep the relationship amicable. This is very important to your child's wellbeing, which should be your main concern.

Divorce can be very difficult for everyone, but you can reduce the impact on your children by enlisting the help of a family law attorney. Find one in your area to assist you in issues involving who gets to keep the kids.