Effective Solutions For Child Custody And Visitation
Kansas and Missouri courts act in the best interests of the child when determining custody and visitation issues. There are two types of custody that parents of minor children must resolve if they are getting divorced or ending a nonmarital relationship.
Physical custody determines how much time a child spends with each parent and where the child spends his or her days and nights. A custodial parent is one who has primary physical custody and the noncustodial parent has a schedule of weekends and some weekdays when the child is with that parent. Joint physical custody is when both parents share time with the child equally.
Legal custody determines who has legal authority to make decisions for a child regarding education, health care, religion and other important matters. Legal custody is frequently shared equally by both parents.
We Work To Resolve Custody Issues Without Litigation
Of all of the decisions that must be made during a divorce, resolving custody issues is among the most important. After all, most parents’ primary concern when they face divorce is maintaining a healthy relationship with their children.
If you need a lawyer to protect your interests in a relocation dispute or to seek modifications to existing orders regarding custody or child support, call 816-751-0570.
At Jackoboice Law Firm in Kansas City, Missouri, attorney Jill Jackoboice strives to resolve custody disputes without the need to litigate. By doing so, she helps her clients retain more control over the look and feel of their parenting lives following divorce. Jill has enjoyed great success helping her clients develop creative parenting plans that keep the decisions in the parents’ hands rather than turning them over to a judge who does not know your child.
In situations where there is significant animosity between parents, a custody dispute can become a battlefield to “win” the divorce. It is important to keep in mind that your children’s best interests are the main priority. “Winning” in this instance is reaching a fair agreement while protecting your child’s emotional well-being.
How The Courts Make Custody Decisions
Unfortunately, not every custody dispute can be resolved through negotiations. If you are unable to reach agreement with your child’s other parent regarding any aspect of custody or visitation, Ms. Jackoboice is a highly skilled litigator who will protect your interests in court. The courts in Kansas and Missouri consider a number of factors when making custody and visitation decisions. These include:
- The child’s emotional and physical health, including adjustment to home, school and community
- Whether each parent will foster a healthy relationship between the child and the child’s other parent
- The child’s wishes, assuming the child is old enough and mature enough to form an opinion
The Experience And Knowledge You Need In Your Corner
The decisions that are made in divorce are too important to rely on representation from an inexperienced attorney or one who bounces between practice areas. Family law is all we do, and we do it well. Contact us to schedule a consultation.