Backed by years of experience, the attorneys at our firm offer the compassionate legal support you deserve as you go through a child custody or paternity issue. From your initial consultation to the conclusion of your case, we will work side by side with you every step of the way. We understand that a family law issue can be tremendously overwhelming; however, you do not have to go through this process alone. We are here for you and your family.

Different Types of Child Custody

People often think about custody in terms of legal custody and physical custody. Legal custody means having the right to make important decisions about your children, such as where they go to school, what religion they practice, and significant medical decisions. Physical custody refers to the child's living arrangements or where the child will reside.

How Is Custody Determined?

You and your co-parent may be able to work out custody and parenting time for your children outside of court. However, if you cannot agree, the court will decide custody and parenting time based on what is known as the child's best interests. There are 12 best interests factors the court will consider before determining. These factors are as follows:

• Love, affection, and other emotional ties that exist between the parties involved and the child
• Capacity and disposition of the parties involved to give the child love, affection, and guidance and to continue the education and raising of the child in their religion or creed
• Capacity and disposition of the parties involved to provide the child with food, clothing, and medical care
• Length of time the child has lived in a stable, satisfactory environment, and the desirability of maintaining this
• Permanence, as a family unit, of the existing or proposed custodial home or homes
• The moral fitness of the parties involved
• Mental and physical health of the parties involved
• Home, school, and community record of the child
• The reasonable preference of the child
• Willingness and ability of each party to facilitate and encourage a close and continuing parent-child relationship between the child and the other parent
• History of domestic violence, regardless of whether the violence was directed against or witnessed by the child