New York Child Custody Lawyer Serving in Kingston and Marlboro
A child custody lawyer at Rusk, Wadlin, Heppner & Martuscello, LLP will provide compassionate legal advice and representation in regard to child custody matters, including working out custody arrangements and arranging for visitation. We’re also qualified to handle child custody litigation if you are involved in a custody-related dispute. Read on for more information about how we can help with New York child custody laws.
Factors Determining Child Custody in New York
New York child custody laws distinguish between legal custody and physical custody of a child. Legal custody refers to the responsibility to make decisions on behalf of a child, and physical custody refers to where a child will live. Courts look at many factors when determining they type of custody arrangement that’s in the child’s best interest:
- Which parent has been the child’s primary caretaker
- The quality of each parent’s home environment
- The parenting skills of each parent, their strengths and weaknesses, and their ability to provide for the child’s special needs (if any)
- The mental and physical health of the parents, including whether either parent drinks or uses drugs
- Whether there has been domestic violence in the family
- The work schedules and child care plans of each parent
- The child’s relationships with brothers, sisters, and members of the rest of the family
- If the child is old enough, which parent the child wants to live with
- Each parent’s ability to cooperate with the other parent and to encourage a relationship with the other parent, when it is safe to do so
Achieving a fair and beneficial child custody arrangement is important for parents and children alike. With strong legal guidance, you can be confident you are entering into a custody agreement that meets the needs of your children and respects your rights as a parent.
Visitation Schedules
Under New York child custody law, if one parent is awarded sole physical custody, the other parent is almost always given visitation rights which allow for “frequent and meaningful” visitation with the child. A common visitation schedule is every other weekend, every other holiday, and one night in the middle of the week if the parents live near each other.
A child custody lawyer from our firm can help you work out a visitation schedule that meets the requirements of the law and honors your relationship with your child. If you need to change your current visitation schedule, we can also help you obtain a post divorce modifications.
Contact Us for Help with Child Custody & Visitation
Working out a child custody arrangement is often one of the most stressful aspects of divorce. Our Marlboro child custody lawyers can help you assert your rights as a parent and obtain a result that’s in your child’s best interest. For more information, please contact Rusk, Wadlin, Heppner & Martuscello, LLP to schedule a consultation.
