Serving Garden City, Long Island, and Queens, New York
If you have young children, resolving child custody disputes can be the most difficult and contentious aspect of your divorce. It is important to work with an attorney who will provide you with skillful and compassionate representation so that these sensitive issues are settled in a way that reflects the best interest of both you and your children.
The goal of a child custody case is to make sure your children are living with the parent that will provide them with the most supportive, loving, and nurturing environment. A well-crafted custody agreement will balance the needs of each parent and the children to ensure that both you and your ex-spouse play an important role in your children’s lives.
You can learn about your rights and options when facing a child custody dispute by speaking with Les Martin in person. Please call 516-222-0900 today to schedule a consultation at our Garden City law office.
Two Aspects to Child Custody
There are two aspects to a custody agreement:
- Legal Custody – This refers to the ability to make decisions about your child’s daily care. Issues such as your child’s education, religious upbringing, and medical care are determined by the parent with legal custody.
- Physical Custody – This aspect of custody deals with where your child will live.
Both legal and physical custody can be awarded to one parent or shared by both parents. Joint custody is encouraged whenever parents can communicate well with each other and reach a consensus regarding the needs and well-being of the children. In all situations, the best interests of the child will be kept in mind when resolving both legal and physical custody.
Visitation
While joint custody is often awarded, it is rare that time is split equally between both parents. Generally, the children will live with one parent more than 50% of the time. In cases where time is split equally in each parents’ home, a true joint custody has been achieved.
In situations where one parent is awarded sole physical custody, the other parent will be awarded visitation rights. This is a specified amount of time determined by the court which the non-custodial parent shares with the children.
Factors Influencing Child Custody
The courts will consider the following factors when determining child custody matters:
- Your child’s age, gender, and mental and physical health
- Each parent’s mental and physical health
- Each parent’s lifestyle
- Instances of child abuse
- The relationship between the child and each parent
- Each parent’s ability to provide daily care
- The child’s regular routine
- Each parent’s ability to accommodate the child’s educational needs
- The child’s preference (generally considered when the child is over age 12)
The schedules of each parent and of the children will also be considered when creating a parenting schedule.
Working for the Best Interests of Your Child
Mr. Martin has been helping parents resolve child custody issues for 45 years. He knows the New York State child custody laws and will provide you with compassionate representation on this sensitive matter. Throughout the entire process, Mr. Martin will keep your child’s best interests at heart, and he has the skills to craft a custody agreement which will ensure that their needs are always top priority.
Please contact Les Martin, Attorney at Law today to schedule your child custody consultation. Mr. Martin serves clients in Nassau, Suffolk, and Queens Counties, and all of New York City.