Child custody cases can be extremely argumentative. How the outcome of these cases is decided varies from state to state. A divorce attorney in Columbus can help parents navigate through these troubled times and advise them regarding the complexities of the case. If you are planning on appointing a child custody attorney, then make sure to ask them these questions for better clarification of your doubts:
· Primarily, you need to have a clear notion of the difference between joint and sole custody. Under sole custody, only one parent holds all the rights and responsibilities of raising the child. Certain states differentiate between legal and physical custody. Legal custody refers to the right of the parent to make all decisions for the child. Usually, one parent receives sole physical custody of the children and both might receive legal custody. However, in sole custody cases, the other parent might get visitation rights with the child. The non-custodial parent will have to financially contribute to the child’s upbringing by offering child support. Both parents have equal rights and responsibilities under joint custody although their time might not be always equal. Even when both parents share joint physical custody, one might have to pay for child support to the other parent.
· Next you will have to understand how the court determines the type of custody to award. Usually, the best interests of the child are considered in determining custody. The court will consider factors like the child’s sex, age, and development. The bond shared by the child with each parent and siblings will also be considered. The court might ask for the child’s preferences if they are old enough to comment on the same. The lifestyle of each parent will be considered to determine which parent will offer a better home environment to the child. Here the court will take a look at the involvement of parents in the parenting process, the emotional, financial, and physical stability of each parent, and whether any issues of domestic violence have been reported against them.
· Once your basic queries have been solved, you might have doubts regarding whether you will have to go to court. This varies according to a jurisdiction with some states requiring parents to attend mediation before the case goes to the court. Both the parents might be able to conclude issues like visitation, child custody, and child support through private conversations or mediation. Reaching an agreement outside of court is preferable as visitation schedules can be coordinated specifically with the parent’s work schedule. The legal expenses are also less when lawyers do not have to present the case in front of the judge. But if the parents cannot conclude, they will have to go to the court where the judge will make decisions on the child’s custody.
Conclusion
Given the inherent complexity of the child custody case, it is required to hire a lawyer holding adequate experience in the related fields so that they can represent you best.