Things to Consider Before Getting a Child Custody Attorney

When parents split up, one of the biggest concerns for both parties is figuring out how to best care for their children. In most cases, this involves finding a good Child Custody attorney to help them work out an arrangement that will be best for the kids. Visit https://www.knoxvilledivorceattorney.net/child-custody/ for further details.

There are a number of different kinds of Child Custody arrangements that can be made. These include sole custody (one parent has custody) and joint custody (both parents share parental responsibilities). A third kind of custody is called visitation, and is where the non-custodial parent gets to see their children for set periods of time.

All of these options must be carefully weighed when making a decision about where a child will live. Usually, the judge will consider which parent can provide a safe, stable environment for the child, and whether that parent can meet the child’s basic needs, including food, shelter and clothing. If a child is at risk of harm, the court may order supervised visits or even no visitation.

Generally, judges try to make sure that the child will spend plenty of time with both parents. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the child will spend equal time with each parent – it all depends on what the judge feels is in the child’s best interests.

In most cases, the judge will appoint an “Attorney for the Child,” who will meet with the child and advocate for the child’s wishes. This is done in order to ensure that the judge hears the child’s perspective, independent of the parents and their lawyers.

If there are allegations of abuse, the court will probably require a psychiatric evaluation. This will involve the therapist meeting with both the parents and the child, and taking detailed notes. The results of the psychiatric evaluation will be used by the judge in deciding the custody situation.

Often, the parent who doesn’t have physical custody will be awarded generous visitation rights. However, if the non-custodial parent fails to pay child support, this can be used by the court as grounds to deny the visitation right completely or at least to restrict it to a limited period of time.

If you are in a situation where you need to hire a Child Custody attorney, contact John Sholly for help. He has extensive experience in family law, and will be able to guide you through the process of determining a custody arrangement that will best serve your child. He also handles other issues related to family law, such as spousal and child support. To schedule an appointment, call today. The initial consultation is free of charge.