If you are involved in a divorce or separation case, you may have to make custody and visitation arrangements for your children. The end of your relationship can be stressful and having children can add layers of stress to your case.
It can be difficult to change your routine when you are used to spending every day and holidays with your child. It is common for parents to have a difficult time when trying to arrange child visitation and custody arrangements.
Having a child visitation attorney can ease the stress and difficulty that is associated with handling these types of issues. When custody and visitation arrangements are made, one parent may be named the custodial parent and have primary custody, with the non-custodial parent having visitation rights.
Parents may also share joint custody, or joint physical custody. With this arrangement, the child will spend equal amounts of time with both of the parents.
When one parent is awarded primary custody, the other parent may need to petition a court and provide a proposed schedule in order to receive a court order outlining their visitation rights. Visitation schedules are not legally binding without a court order.
It can be easier on parents to come to an agreement amongst themselves about the visitation schedule they will follow. If the parents cannot do so, many courts will provide a standard visitation schedule, dividing holidays between the parties as evenly as possible.
When parents will not or cannot communicate and negotiate, they may be required to follow a visitation schedule that does not meet their needs and causes more issues between the parties. Any agreement involving children must represent the child’s best interests.
Courts typically prefer when parents create their own plans, as the parties usually find it easier to follow. As long as the parents agree to the plan and it is deemed to be in the best interests of the child, it will likely be approved by the court.
A lawyer for child visitation will be familiar with the factors that are used to determine what is in the child’s best interests as well as how the court will likely apply the child’s best interest standard in their case. The child’s welfare is always considered ahead of the wishes of the parents.
How much a lawyer will cost will depend on the issues involved in the child visitation case as well as many other factors, such as:
Child visitation issues are typically handled on an hourly fee basis. The hourly fees charged may range between $150 to $400 or more per hour, depending on the attorney’s experience level and location.
When you are searching for a child visitation lawyer to help with your issue, it is important to prioritize whether they have previous experience with family law cases, specifically child visitation cases. It is also important to seek a lawyer with:
When you have scheduled a consultation with a child visitation attorney, it is important for you to prepare before you go. This will help your lawyer determine the best way to handle your claim.
It is important to bring anything that you think may be helpful to your lawyer, which may include correspondence between you and the other parent, evidence of the child’s special needs, if they have any, and information about their regular schedule.
You should also write down a summary of concerns or issues you have and the resolution or agreement you would like to reach. It is also important to write down a list of questions you may have, such as:
If you are involved in a child visitation case, it can be a stressful time, as you are likely very concerned about how it will affect your child or children. The child’s best interests will always prevail in these cases and your child visitation lawyer can help you receive a favorable child custody and visitation agreement.
You may be wondering, “where to find a child visitation attorney near me?” or “where to find child visitation lawyers near me?,” especially if you are not currently able to see your child. LegalMatch is a free and convenient way to find a child visitation attorney in your area who is ready to help you resolve your visitation issue.
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