Columbia County Child Custody Lawyer

Most child custody issues are decided out of the courtroom, either through person to person discussions, mediation, or other means. In fact, according to the American Bar Association, less than five percent of custody decisions are made by a judge. Whether your custody dispute or decision goes to the courtroom or not, it is important to work with an experienced family law attorney to ensure that you and your child’s best interests are adhered to. Contact the Columbia County child custody lawyers of the Colwell Law Group today to set up a no risk consultation.

In the Child’s Best Interests

If a judge makes a decision for you, they will decide in favor of the child’s best interests, which is why it is important to work with an attorney who knows how to show that your parenting, care, and supervision are, indeed, in the child’s best interests. Our custody attorneys in Columbia County know how to gather this important proof in child custody cases. Evidence may come in the form of documentation, family, friend, and teacher statements, and much more.

Types of Columbia County Custody Decisions

Custody decisions can leave one parent with sole legal custody and the other with visitation rights. It can leave both parents with shared custody, or one parent with physical custody. And, in some rare cases, two children may be split up if they have a caustic relationship, where one would live with the father and the other with the mother, which is called split custody.

The following provides a general overview of the various types of family custody decisions an attorney could help with after a divorce:

• Sole legal custody – Only one parent can make legal decisions about healthcare, education, living situation, and other decisions;
• Physical custody – The parent who has physical custody will be responsible for the supervision and care of the child. Physical custody can be joint (shared equally between the two parents) or sole. A parent with sole legal custody will also usually have sole physical custody, meaning that the child lives with them for more than half the time, according to New York Courts;
• Joint legal custody – Both parents can make decisions about their child. The child usually spends equal or roughly equal time with both parents;
• Split custody – One child is sent to live with one parent and one child is sent to live with the other parent. Visitation usually does not overlap, meaning that the children are always kept apart. This is a very rare outcome of child custody decisions.
• Visitation rights – A parent who does not have custodial rights may be given visitation time, decided by the court. This parent is in charge of the child’s supervision and care during this court-ordered visitation, and the custodial parent cannot legally intervene during visitation.

Call a Columbia County Child Custody Attorney For Help Today

Child custody issues are extremely important and can shape the future of your and your child’s life after divorce. We encourage you to take no chances during this time and to work with only the most experienced and trusted law firm. Reach out to the Columbia County child custody lawyers with the Colwell Law Group today.

Get The Best Outcome For Your Children

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