Child custody proceedings are sensitive for all parties involved and should be handled delicately. While no family intends to end up in a custody battle, even the most amicable separations involving children should use the assistance of an experienced lawyer to reach a custody agreement. Finding a custody lawyer who understands your parental goals and the needs of the entire family will give you guidance and ease in a stressful time.
What Does a Custody Lawyer Do?
A custody lawyer works with parents to create an ideal restructuring plan for the family. The client and lawyer determine the desired schedule and visitation rights; this involves choosing the custody arrangement best suited for the child and client. There are three general arrangements of custody to consider:
- Temporary custody – During a separation or divorce, this arrangement grants custody to one parent. A more permanent arrangement ensues after the separation.
- Exclusive custody – One parent is granted sole custody in this situation. In this arrangement, the non-custodial parent can request specific visitation rights and schedules.
- Joint custody – In the state of Texas, this is the most ideal situation assuming it is in the child’s best interest. In this arrangement, both parents are granted equal custody. Decisions regarding the child’s upbringing are a shared responsibility.
What Makes a Good Custody Lawyer?
- A good custody lawyer understands that separation is already an exhausting ordeal. He or she will try to reach the most agreeable resolution for all parties expediently; this involves offering other services such as mediation and collaborative family law to clients in order to avoid litigation.
- If going to court is inevitable, seasoned custody lawyers understand that each case is different. The client and custody lawyer work together to set the tone of the case with the client’s goals in mind.
- A good custody lawyer is multifunctional and knows when to be assertive, compromise and enact alternative strategies.
- Experience. It is in your best interest to discuss your potential custody lawyer’s experience in family law before working together. A good custody lawyer who has worked many successful cases will have the foresight to plan for potential conflicts and come up with ways to avoid them.
- Expect your custody lawyer to demonstrate objectivity, diligence and excellent communication skills.
- In any case, there is absolutely no tolerance for abuse or false accusations of abuse. The best custody lawyers know the heart of any custody case centers around the children, and protecting them comes first and foremost.
If you are in need of assistance in understanding your rights as a parent or resolving custody issues, contact the legal team at Hayes, Berry, White & Vanzant at (940) 387-3518, or contact us here to set up a custody consultation.
