Get Legal Help with Custody/Visitation

Few areas of law impact people's lives more than child custody and visitation.

If you have children, they're probably the most important thing to you in the world. Now that you and your partner are splitting up, you have many important decisions to make. Where will they live? If disputes arise, how will you settle them?

Parents are sometimes able to negotiate their child custody and visitation plan between themselves. They then work with a family law attorney to draft a written parenting agreement.

In other cases, when emotions are running high, parents need help negotiating these important agreements. An experienced family law attorney is invaluable in that process. And of course, if an agreement cannot be reached, a child custody lawyer will help you bring a case to court.

This article highlights the many ways that a family law attorney can assist you in a child custody case, and how you can choose the best child custody lawyer for you.

Get Legal Help With Child Custody

A child custody dispute can be one of the most stressful events imaginable. A child custody lawyer can help your situation in a variety of ways, including:

• Explaining what types of custody arrangements are possible
• Negotiating a custody agreement that is based on the best interests of the child
• Advising you as you participate in child custody mediation
• Representing you in family court
• Petitioning the judge for modification of a child custody order or preparing a defense against a requested change
• Taking your case back to court to prevent interference with your child custody rights
• Representing your interests if your child's other parent wants to relocate to another state
• Helping grandparents seek legal custody, in some situations

Get Legal Help With Visitation

While parents often cooperate well to ensure that their child gets time with both parents, sometimes life circumstances, honest disagreements, or lingering bad feelings can impede child visitation. A child custody attorney can provide assistance by:

• Advising you on your visitation rights
• Negotiating a visitation schedule
• Advising you as you mediate a dispute about the visitation schedule
• Representing you in family court if you need to seek a modification of a parenting schedule
• Initiating legal action to prevent interference with your visitation rights;
• Protecting unmarried fathers' rights to visitation
• Helping grandparents seek visitation rights

How a Choose a Family Law Attorney

Family law attorneys are extensively trained in handling child custody and visitation disputes. Many attorneys who choose this field of law consider it meaningful to assist clients at one of the most difficult and demanding times in their lives.

Your attorney will be a trusted legal adviser and advocate. It's important to find one that you feel comfortable with. While all lawyers have strong people skills, in no area of law is this more true than family law. A top-notch family lawyer will have a mixture of sensitivity to their client's needs, finesse in dealing with opposing counsel, and toughness when protecting their client's interests.

Get Legal Help for Your Custody and Visitation Case

Figuring out child custody and related issues on your own can be a daunting proposition, legally and emotionally. Your attorney will advise you, fight for you, match wits with opposing counsel, and defend your rights. If you need legal help, contact a family law attorney near you.