A Divorce Attorney Discusses Child Custody

One responsibility that a divorce attorney is charged with is to make sure to take out all the emotion that goes into a case. This is not to say that I do not have a great deal of empathy for our clients or that I am not completely invested in the cases. Rather, our training has taught us that to win the fight and get you the things you deserve at the end of a marriage, a divorce attorney has to be your voice of reason with a clear focus upon the law. This allows you to be emotional while simultaneously pursuing a strategy designed to win. I understand a divorce is often a stressful and emotionally draining time for people, and I also know the family law system is full of pitfalls I need to make sure you don’t fall into.

Speaking of emotion, child custody is a big issue for many parents. The fact that children have a deep emotional bonding with their parents makes it extremely difficult for parents to understand things like shared custody, especially if the court rules that the other parent will have primary custody. Our job as your divorce attorney is to make sure you see the child as much as possible and to meet when you want. This has to be done carefully, which is why you need a divorce attorney to help you plan it. When each parent submits a parenting plan, the judge will look at many factors and, in the end, determine what is in the best interest of the children. As your divorce attorney, I want to make sure the plan I present is not only in the best interests of the child and yourself but also fair, so you seem mature and willing to work with the other parent.

Along with child custody comes the issue of money and child support. Typically in a divorce case, unless there is perfectly shared custody, the judge will order child support. The way a family court judge reaches this determination over the course of the trial is looking at financial disclosures from both parties and their respective incomes. Once the judge decides which parent is primary and their percentages of debt, child support will be ordered. Your divorce attorney is tasked with making sure I put the best foot forward, showing an ability to care for the child as the primary caregiver and also ensuring you do not have to pay child support or alimony because you are doing well.

There are many things that have to be hashed out in a divorce. From the major properties owned by the parties, which includes homes and cars, to smaller things like photographs, I have to separate every aspect of two lives. This can be an emotional journey for the people involved, which is why you need to have your divorce attorney work for you and make sure you get the things you want and deserve.