If you are going through a divorce and fighting for custody of your child, you might be in the middle of an incredibly stressful, emotionally distressing time. Above all, the court will want to do what is best for your child. Contacting an experienced Hickory child custody lawyer is the most effective way to make sure that the interests of your child are represented during this time.
At Cody Law Firm, we can help you with any and all difficult processes relating to child custody. Whether you need legal advice, help with your negotiations, representation in court, or anything pertaining to reaching a child custody agreement, our team has got you covered.
If you need help enforcing a child custody agreement or want to consult about your legal options if your child’s other parent is not upholding their end of the agreement, we are here to support you.
When you make the decision to dissolve your marriage, and you and your former partner share children together, you will have to agree on how to split custody. In some states, there is a presumption that the custody will be split 50-50, but this is not the case in Hickory, North Carolina. If you and your partner cannot agree on the terms of your custody arrangement, the district court will have to decide for you.
The court’s main priority is the interest of your child. It will review a lot of facts in your situation and issue an order in which they divide custody. There is a wide variety of factors that will be taken into consideration and might influence custody, such as:
The final custody agreement will look different depending on the unique factors of your situation. Typically, there will be one parent whom the judge gives primary custody and another parent who is deemed the non-custodial, secondary parent. Depending on your circumstances, one parent might also have to make child support payments to the other parent.
If you are fighting for your desired child custody arrangement, it is important to have an experienced legal child custody professional on your side advocating for your interests. First, your attorney can help negotiate with the other party’s legal representation to try and reach an agreement about custody arrangements, visitation schedules, and parental rights without going to court.
Making such important decisions about your family life can be difficult, and in the event that these negotiations do not result in an agreement and your case does go to court, your Hickory child custody lawyer will be there to support you.
Your lawyer can represent you during your child custody legal proceedings and do everything in their power to make sure that your voice is heard. Whether they are presenting evidence, making a strong argument in your favor, or questioning witnesses, they will help show the court why your case is in your child’s interest.
On top of all of the legal technicalities involved during the child custody process, your family law attorney can provide clear, compassionate support and guidance during this confusing time. They will always respectfully and patiently listen to your needs, concerns, and questions about this process.
Once you have a child custody order, it is crucial that both parties abide by the rules within it. In the event that the other parent is not complying with their end of your agreement, your family law lawyer can help defend your rights and enforce the order.
For instance, maybe the other parent is keeping the child from you during times in which you are supposed to have your child, bribing the child or convincing them not to stay with you, or reducing and restricting visitation times.
They are not allowed to do this per the terms of the legal order, and you have every right to take legal action against them if any of these frustrating scenarios happen to you.
The price of child custody lawyers in North Carolina varies greatly because no two child custody cases are alike. Sometimes, child custody negotiations only require a bit of professional legal guidance before reaching a sound agreement.
However, on the other hand, if you are having serious trouble compromising with your child’s other parent, you might be in for a long, drawn-out court battle. The amount of time that your child custody attorney has to put into your case, be it with consultation, research, mediation, or court representation, the more legal fees you can expect to pay.
Navigating a child custody arrangement can be easier said than done. On top of having to process ending your marriage, you also have to grapple with the reality of seeing your children a lot less than you do now.
Plus, in addition to caring for your own emotional needs, you have to be there for your children to make sure they adjust to their new parenting situation as well as they possibly can.
This is a lot for one person to handle. The last thing you need when having to go through such a difficult time is to handle the weight of your legal needs all by yourself. Our team of respectful, reliable family law attorneys at Cody Law Firm can help you with all parts of your child custody process.
Whether you voluntarily agreed to a particular arrangement and now problems have come up, or you are in the middle of a tense court battle over how custody should be arranged, one of our knowledgeable child custody lawyers can help support you. Contact our office today to learn more.
Fields marked with an * are required
"*" indicates required fields