If you are going through a divorce, you may be worried about child custody rulings and the effect that this arrangement could have on you and your children’s lives. Our Rochester child custody lawyers are compassionate and dedicated to protecting parents’ rights. For more than six decades, our firm has been helping families find productive solutions to tough problems. Here is what you should know about child custody.
Protecting Parents’ Rights | Physical and Legal Custody
Custody agreements include two parts. First, the parent who has Physical Custody of the child provides the permanent residence where the child lives, while Legal Custody is granted to the parent responsible for making the big decisions in a child’s life, things like what schools they will attend, what faith (if any) they will be raised in, and issues like consenting to surgery. These can be shared by both parents, left to one, or split between parents, depending on the circumstances of their relationship with each other and the best interests of the child.
Protecting Parents’ Rights | Benefits of an Attorney
Child Custody issues are of deep interest to the State of New York when couples separate or divorce, and the state retains a vested interest in the child’s well-being until they have reached 18 years of age. The agreements that couples reach are almost always well intentioned, but life changes unexpectedly. Some of the issues that bring clients to see us include:
- Job change requiring modification of visitation schedule by either parent
- Permission to move out of state with a minor child
- Enforcement actions when one parent violates a custody agreement
- Grandparents who want a greater role in their grandchild’s life
- Financial hardship necessitating changes in physical custody or support agreements
The experienced attorneys at Friedman & Ranzenhofer are keenly aware that the opposing parties in custody matters are people who will be in your life for years or decades. As co-parents, the best approach is to find a way to work together to achieve an agreement that provides a safe, supportive, and nurturing home environment that both parents can participate in.
At Friedman & Ranzenhofer, our Rochester Child Custody Lawyers put families first, and in child custody matters, we always put your child first. Let us help you work through your child custody problems. Call us today for a consultation. Let our experience work for you.