Determining which parent a child should live with can be one of the most heart wrenching decisions to be made. Many times, both parents feel they would do a better job than the other. When custody of a child cannot be agreed upon or a solid custody agreement needs to be written, contact a child custody lawyer in Linwood, NJ. There is specific wording and clear guidelines in a custody order. For example, if an agreement only states that mom has the children on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, there is no specific time and problems could arise easily.
When there are not times and days clearly outlined, one parent could refuse to return the children and the other parent would have no legal document to state otherwise. If domestic violence has happened involved in the relationship, it’s important for that to be brought to the attention of a child custody lawyer in Linwood, NJ. Children witnessing or being victims of domestic violence does not serve in the best interests of them. The court’s guiding principal in child custody cases is the best interest of the child. It is not the child’s fault that the parents were unable to cohabitate together. They should have equal access to both parents. If one parent attempts to limit the child from seeing the other parent, the court would not view this as being in the best interest of the child unless the parent was a danger to the child. Click here for more details on child custody.
A child custody lawyer in Linwood, NJ can explain the legal guidelines in a child custody petition. If the parents cannot agree on a proper child custody arrangement, the courts will determine it after a hearing. Both sides can present their case to the judge through their attorney. Depending on the child’s age, the judge may take the child’s wishes into consideration in a custody determination. It’s always best that two parents agree on what is best for their child. When this cannot occur, it’s important to work with an experienced attorney like Michael T. Wolf Esq in Linwood, NJ. His years of experience in family law and child custody determinations will help make the process much smoother.
