New Haven Child Custody & Visitation Attorney
New Haven child custody and visitation issues can be some of the most contentious in family law. People typically have strong ideas about how their children should be raised. This means that most people are very reluctant to allow anything to interfere with their ability to raise their child the way they deem most appropriate.
In determinations of child custody and visitation, whether happening as part of a divorce or as a separate family law proceeding, the court will look to serve the best interests of the child. Child custody and visitation are more and more often referred to as parenting time. Many child custody and visitation decisions today begin from the point of wanting to provide both parents with a shared role in their child’s life.
Child custody entails two components:
- Legal custody — This provides a parent with the right to make decisions regarding the child’s upbringing on issues such as religion, health care and education.
- Physical custody — This refers to which parent the child resides with the majority of the time. While the courts will work to achieve a balance, the child will often spend a greater degree of time at one of the parent’s homes.
New Haven Custody & Visitation Resources
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Why Choose Our Experienced Family Law Firm
Connecticut Child Custody and Visitation Laws
Why Should You Hire a Child Custody Lawyer?
Experienced Family Law Representation For Those Facing Child Visitation & Custody Issues
At Lynch, Traub, Keefe & Errante, our New Haven child custody and visitation attorneys are committed to helping parents protect their relationships with their children. With more than 60 years of experience, we are able to provide our clients with the highly skilled family law representation they need. Our family law firm’s focus on our clients’ needs enables us to create strategic solutions that allow parents to maintain their presence in their child’s life.
What Are Connecticut’s Child Custody and Visitation Laws?
When parents end their relationship in Connecticut, they will need to obtain a custody order or create a custody agreement to determine how they plan to share parental responsibilities. This order can be issued by a judge, or parents could come to a mutual agreement via negotiations or mediation.
There are two types of custody in Connecticut: physical and legal. As mentioned above, physical custody primarily involves how much time each child spends with a parent. The parents may split custody equally, or one parent may have sole physical custody. One parent will always be designated as the primary custodial parent.
On the other hand, custody refers to a parent’s authority to make important decisions on behalf of a child. These decisions may involve the child’s education, medical care, and religion. Parents often share legal custody regardless of the physical custody arrangement. However, a judge may award sole legal custody to a parent if it is in the best interest of the child.
When making any decisions regarding physical custody, legal custody, child support or visitation time, a court will always consider the best interests of the child. There are several factors that go into these decisions, including the child’s needs, the physical and mental health of the parents, and the stability of each parent’s residence.
Why Should You Hire a Child Custody Lawyer?
Facing a child custody or visitation dispute can be a challenging process. Deciding who will be the primary caretaker, when each parent will see the children, and where the children will spend important holidays and vacations can be extremely stressful. If you find yourself in this situation, you need a New Haven child custody and visitation attorney on your side.
A lawyer can guide you through this complex process and advocate for your best interests during discussions with your former spouse or partner. Hiring an attorney can provide you with several benefits, such as the following:
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- Knowledge of Family Law: Connecticut family law can be very complicated and difficult to understand, especially if you are unfamiliar with the family court system. In these situations, you need a lawyer who is an expert in this legal area. Your lawyer will help you understand these complex legal issues and protect your interests.
- Experience Handling Complex Cases: A child custody and visitation attorney will have years of experience helping Connecticut families navigate these difficult situations. Your attorney can prepare you for each stage of your case and create a smoother process.
- Dedication to Your Best Interests: There are many bitter disputes and issues that could arise during custody battles, including parental alienation and violations of custody agreements. An attorney will be dedicated to protecting your rights and can lend a sense of urgency and authority to your case.
- Protection of Your Child’s Rights: When going through a child custody or visitation case, you want to ensure that you are acting in the best interests of your child. Your lawyer will do everything in his or her power to avoid any errors that could impact your child’s quality of life.
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Contact a New Haven Child Custody & Visitation Attorney Today
When you are facing child custody and visitation issues, you need to take immediate action to ensure you are able to secure the resolution you need. The New Haven child visitation and custody lawyers of Lynch, Traub, Keefe & Errante can help you. To schedule a free initial consultation, call 203-800-7343, toll free at 888-692-7403 or contact us online.