CHILD CUSTODY

Creating a parenting plan might be the most important thing a parent ever does. It shapes your life & the life of your child. There are no details that should be left up to chance. The law requires courts to "maximize the participation of each parent in the child’s life consistent with the child’s best interest“. What does that even mean? It means that there is no such thing as a one size fits all parenting plan. We help customize a parenting plan that puts your child first. We go far beyond family law's standard visitation, every other weekend or 50/50. We take into account every unique factor in your child’s life, their relationship with you, their relationships in the community & help you craft a plan that sets everyone up for success.

Parenting plans are permanent – until they’re not. 18 years is a very long time & lots of things can happen after you have a permanent parenting plan in place. We understand that life happens & sometimes your parenting plan needs to change accordingly. In evaluating your case, we look for a change in circumstances in your children’s lives. That’s generally a pretty easy thing to find & can range from moving, their performance at school, to a parent getting remarried.  We help you create a parenting plan tailored to the new needs of your children & family. We then help you gather the necessary evidence to show the court why that plan is in the best interest of your children & advocate that change to be awarded. 

Paternity actions are vital family law tools for unmarried parents. For fathers, they establish legally enforceable child custody rights. For mothers, they are needed to set up a child support award. If a father has signed the birth certificate the law presumes he is the father, but he is not entitled to parental rights until a judge enters an order establishing him as the legal father & sets a parenting plan. Mothers cannot begin receiving child support until a court has made those determinations as well. Unmarried parents are still a family unit that need structure to thrive. We will asses all factors of your child's life to create a plan that will set them up for success with both their mother & father.

Going to court doesn’t have to be sad or scary. Sometimes it is one of the happiest days of your life; and ours in the world of family law! Adoptions are the opportunity to expand your family & give legal recognition to the bonds that you have already formed.

It seems like such a happy process would be simple, but it is anything but that. There is a very specific process that must be followed, even if everyone agrees. We take the time & effort to make sure that every detail of your adoption is handled & correct to ensure that the new family you are building will begin on a firm foundation.