Child Custody and Child Support

Children often feel like they’re caught in the crossfire when their parents get a divorce. It’s essential that both parents work hard to keep their children’s routines consistent and as free from the conflict of divorce as possible

In custody matters, the court prioritizes the child's best interests. Mediation is often ordered to help parents reach agreements. Terms like joint and sole custody are common. Sole custody doesn't mean losing parental rights; it means one parent has more parenting time and decision-making responsibilities.

Joint legal custody involves shared day-to-day decisions, while shared physical custody means close to equal parenting time. Parenting arrangements can be flexible, but child support follows a formula based on parents' incomes and parenting time.

The parent with less time typically pays child support. Disagreements may lead to a court-ordered custody evaluation by a social worker who assesses the family situation and recommends arrangements in the child's best interest.

Using children as pawns or speaking negatively about the other parent is strongly disapproved by custody evaluators and judges.

Children often feel like they’re caught in the crossfire when their parents get a divorce. It’s essential that both parents work hard to keep their children’s routines consistent and as free from the conflict of divorce as possible.

In custody cases, the court prioritizes the child's best interests and often orders mediation for parental agreements. Terms like joint and sole custody are common but don't imply losing parental rights. Sole custody means one parent has more parenting time and decision-making responsibility. Joint legal custody involves shared day-to-day decisions, and shared physical custody means near equal parenting time. Parenting arrangements are flexible, but child support is determined by a formula based on income and parenting time.

The parent with less time usually pays child support. Disputes may lead to a court-ordered custody evaluation by a social worker who recommends arrangements in the child's best interest. Using children as pawns or speaking negatively about the other parent is strongly disapproved by custody evaluators and judges.