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Family Law

What Does a Child Custody Lawyer Do?

A Child Custody lawyer is a legal professional who can help parents get the custody of their children. This is an important process that can be difficult and stressful, but it’s vital to getting the best outcome for your family.

When there is a dispute over how to raise your children, you need an experienced Spring Hill child custody lawyer who can guide you through the process. This will ensure that your kids are properly cared for during the separation and divorce process and that you and your ex partner can have a healthy and happy relationship with them after the separation.

In a typical custody case, courts will look at a number of factors before making a decision. These include:

* What is in the best interests of the child?

In the majority of cases, it is in the best interests of the child for the parents to have joint custody. This is where both parents share the authority to make decisions about the child’s welfare, including education and health. The parents work together to develop a plan for the child’s upbringing, and they must communicate with each other to keep each other informed about the child’s needs. If there is a serious issue with the communication of the parents or if one parent is violent or abusive, joint custody may not be possible.

* Physical custody and visitation

In a common custody situation, a judge will award both parents equal physical custody of the child. This usually means that the child lives primarily with one parent, and the other gets regular visitation rights. The court may also order a set schedule for the parent’s visits with their child, or the parent can request that the court make the decision on a case-by-case basis.

* Whether the children have significant ties with each other or their birth relatives

In many cases, blood ties will be considered by the courts. However, this factor does not have to be given priority over the best interests of the child. The Children’s Law Reform Act says that a court will give the best interests of the child greater weight than blood ties when making a custody decision, but that doesn’t mean that a parent can’t ask for custody based on family ties.

* Drug and alcohol abuse

If either parent has a history of substance abuse, the court will consider this to be an important factor in determining who is able to make the best choices for their child. The court will also look at how a parent’s use of drugs and alcohol affects the child’s well-being, mental development, and academic progress.

* The parenting skills of both parents

If you and your ex have a good relationship, you can try to work out an agreement for custody without the need for a court case. This can be done through negotiation or mediation by a lawyer. If you’re not able to reach an agreement, the only way to get a custody and access arrangement is through the court.