Divorce Attorneys for Women’s Rights Fiercely Representing Mothers in Child Custody Cases 

A child custody determination may be one of the most stressful experiences of your life. Imagining the loss of time with your child can be a stressful and challenging situation, but the right legal representation can make a tremendous positive impact on your child custody determination. At Woodford Sathappan McGee, we understand the emotions that come with child custody determination and want to provide the legal counsel you need to approach this situation with clarity and confidence. 

We provide legal counsel to women exclusively, and our determined focus enables us to deliver a unique set of skills and resources to every client we represent. If you are divorcing your spouse and you have children together, or if you are an unmarried parent who needs to firmly establish custody rights over your child, we can help. Woodford Sathappan McGee is proud to serve as your child custody lawyer.

Why Hire Woodford Sathappan McGee?

Child custody determinations are never easy. Mothers facing this situation may feel alienated and unsure regarding how to make the best case for custody. Woodford Sathappan McGee has years of experience providing women with a full range of legal services. Together, we can approach child custody cases in a comprehensive manner that arms you with solid information and brings you peace of mind. 

When you choose the child custody attorneys at Woodford Sathappan McGee to represent your case, we will take time to get to know you and your family in order to provide fully individualized representation. We will learn how you interact with your children, determine their needs, and establish the type of custody arrangement which would best suit each of your needs and best interests. We also provide ongoing support beyond the conclusion of your case. Should you need to adjust your child custody order due to unexpected life events or initiate contempt proceedings against your ex-spouse for violation of the order, we can help with these matters as well. 

Can My Ex and I Negotiate Child Custody Privately?

Many divorcing couples throughout the US choose divorce mediation instead of standard litigation. So long as you have the right child custody lawyer, mediation can help to streamline the divorce and custody process, save money on legal fees, and allow couples to arrive at more personalized divorce and custody settlements. The divorcing parents can negotiate a parenting plan and present it as a proposal to the family court, but a family court judge must approve the agreement before it is legally enforceable. 

Woodford Sathappan McGee can help you take full advantage of the benefits of mediation with a firm focus on child custody. We know that this aspect of the process is most important to you, and we can guide you through divorce mediation sessions or represent you in court if that step becomes necessary. In most cases, a divorcing couple will negotiate as much of their divorce as possible before moving to litigation to ask the court to rule on any lingering issues. This could include child custody, so you can rely on your team to help you negotiate a comprehensive parenting plan a family court judge is likely to approve. 

How Does the Court Decide Custody Rights?

Whether you submit an agreed parenting plan proposal to the court or litigate your child custody determination in court, the judge overseeing the matter must rule in favor of your child’s best interests. This means the judge must evaluate numerous factors to determine which type of custody arrangement would suit the child best. In some cases, particularly those involving older children, a judge may consider the child’s preferences concerning which parent they would prefer to hold primary custody. A family court judge can rule in favor of granting sole custody to one parent or may establish a shared parenting plan which involves both parents in accordance with the child’s best interest.

Child Custody Factors

Some of the factors the judge overseeing your custody determination will consider include: 

• The wishes of the child’s parents regarding the child’s care;

• The wishes and concerns of the child;
• The child’s interaction and interrelationship with the child’s parents, siblings, and any other person who may significantly affect the child’s best interest;
• The child’s adjustment to the child’s home, school, and community;
• The mental and physical health of all persons involved in the situation;
• Whether either parent has been convicted or pled guilty to domestic violence or child abuse

The judge will then determine how to best divide custody and parenting time between the parents. “Custody” generally refers to the right to make major decisions on a child’s behalf. “Parenting Time” refers to where the children live and spend their time. It is common for divorcing parents to establish shared parenting plans that provide equal custody to both parents, with an equitable distribution of parenting time to account for the children’s best interests. 

Child Custody and Child Support

It is important to remember that your child custody determination will influence your child support order. State family law may uphold that both parents must contribute to raising their children. If one parent assumes greater custody rights than the other, and the children spend the majority of their time with one parent, the other parent will likely pay child support to the custodial parent. 

Changing Your Custody Order

Life is unpredictable, and you may be faced with an unexpected situation that renders your current child custody order untenable. If you need to make a change of any kind to your child custody order, our child custody lawyers can help. The modification process in the family court system may allow you to make changes to your child custody order with a motion. Once you recognize that a change is necessary, we can help you draft your motion for modification and submit it to the court. If a judge determines the change is in the children’s best interest, they will alter your child custody order accordingly. 

It is also possible for modification proceedings to occur when one parent wishes to relocate with their children. Additionally, modifications may be necessary if a parent has repeatedly failed to uphold their responsibilities under a child custody order. If you encounter any situation like this, Woodford Sathappan McGee can assist you in addressing it through the appropriate legal channels. 

Find a Divorce Attorney for Women’s Rights & Needs 

Child custody determination may be one of the most difficult situations you ever face. Fortunately, you can face your child custody proceedings with greater confidence by choosing Woodford Sathappan McGee to represent you. For more information about state child custody laws or to learn how your team can fight for you, contact us today and schedule your consultation with a woman focused child custody lawyer you can trust.