As a parent, it is your responsibility to ensure that your children have a safe, fair and reasonable custody agreement. This is to ensure that they are raised in a safe and loving environment and can have a relationship with both parents when possible. In some cases, child custody agreements can be reached between the parties without legal intervention or court orders. In other custody disputes, it is necessary to obtain legal counsel to draw up a custody agreement that is fair to both parties and, more importantly, best for the children involved.
Why Hire a Child Custody Lawyer?
Whether married or unmarried, when two parents are separated and need to draw up a custody agreement, they will usually start the process off with the best of intentions. Barring an abusive, unstable or unsafe environment, it is unlikely that one parent will attempt to deprive the other of spending time with his or her child. Regardless, custody arrangements can get complicated. Who gets custody during holidays and vacations? This is just one of many questions with no easy answer. Additionally, even when both parties have the best of intentions, separation and custody arrangements are very emotional matters, and an unbiased and educated third party can keep the process on track. This bolsters the case for involving legal counsel to prepare an agreement, putting emotions aside and focusing on the child.
How Custody Lawyers Can Help
In some cases, one attorney can be retained to draw up a child custody agreement that both parties can agree on. In other situations, particularly those that are hostile or contentious, it may be necessary for both parties to retain counsel. While it can be expensive to retain counsel to establish child custody agreements, more often than not, it results in the most optimal results for the child involved. Attorneys are able to pragmatically assess the situation so that the child is raised in the best environment possible. Legally binding agreements serve not only to protect the children involved but also the parents, to avoid future disputes and to establish a clear, regimented custody schedule to avoid future conflict and instability.
Finding the Right Attorney
The ideal child custody lawyer possesses a strong skill set and an abundance of compassion for all parties involved. Many child custody lawyers specialize in family law, allowing them to devise an optimal agreement. While the separation of a child’s parents is undoubtedly upsetting, a custody plan can ultimately result in a happier childhood and stable, emotionally healthy upbringing. In order to find the right child custody attorney, it is recommended that you check reputable legal databases such as FindLaw and Avvo to make sure you are retaining someone qualified to draft a child custody agreement that you are comfortable with. That way, you can move forward with a co-parenting plan that all parties agree on.
