Being a parent is all about making decisions for your child’s life. This is hard enough to do when you and the child’s other parent are together and on the same page. But, it gets a lot harder when you and the other parent aren’t together.
That’s where a child custody attorney can be a huge help. When you and your ex can’t seem to reach an agreement, a Garner child custody attorney can guide you to a fair resolution. For more information on child custody and some Garner-specific resources, see below.
For help with your child custody case, reach out to Breeden Law Office online or call (919) 661-4970. With over two decades of experience and success in all sorts of custody cases, attorney Breeden is ready to assist you.
Most residents of Garner, NC either live in Wake or Johnston County, but no matter where you reside, questions surrounding who gets custody will come up when couples get divorced. Divorce is already a complex and emotionally charged time, so when disputes about the kids come up, parents often get angry fast.
Whether you are getting a divorce or simply want a formal custody arrangement with your child’s other parent, you need to know which form of custody you want. And you need to support your reasoning for wanting it. A Garner custody attorney can help you through the process.
In North Carolina, parents can have legal custody or physical custody. They can also share either kind. In some cases, though, one parent may be the only one who wants or can reasonably have custody. North Carolina also recognizes custody of non-parents in situations where parents are temporarily unable to care for a child properly.
If you have a custody order, your entire child custody arrangement is “legal” in the sense that it must be upheld. But when you hear the term “legal custody,” you are talking about the right of a parent to make major life decisions for a child.
Legal custody gives you the right to make decisions about your child’s home, school, religion, healthcare, and much more.
Physical custody is all about who gets to care for the child. If you have physical custody, you have a legal right to physically have your child in your presence and at your home for a specified amount of time each week.
Joint custody means that you and the child’s other parent or guardian share custody. This can apply to legal and physical custody. So, you and the other parent might have joint physical and legal custody.
Or you could have joint physical custody with the other parent but legally retain the right to make all major decisions for your child. The combination in your case will depend on your situation and the court’s decision.
Sole custody is the opposite of joint custody. But like joint custody, it can apply to legal and physical custody separately. That means you could have joint physical custody with the other parent but have sole legal custody, as well as any other reasonable combination.
People who are not a child’s parents can get custody of that child in certain circumstances. Typically, you do this by showing that the parents have not cared for the child.
Grandparents, stepparents, and close relatives who have cared for the child can often make a case for non-parental custody.
North Carolina does not require parents who are not together to have a custody order. But there are several reasons why you should consider a custody order if you and your child’s other parent are separated:
Almost any discussion of child custody is going to include questions about child support. Child support is a monthly payment one parent makes to the other to help care for the child. This money is meant to benefit the child — not the parent. That means it should go toward childcare costs, medical expenses, school fees, and similar costs.
Family courts use strict methods to calculate child support that meets the needs of the involved children. Both parents’ incomes are taken into consideration. Additionally, the calculation is different for each type of child custody arrangement.
Your Garner child support lawyer can help you understand how your custody agreement will affect your child support order.
In North Carolina, child visitation is set through a court order. It lays out when and for how long you can visit your child. In some cases, a visitation order may also call for certain conditions, such as supervision. In addition to parents, grandparents can also file for visitation rights in some cases.
In all but extreme cases, noncustodial parents get visitation rights. But even though visitation is often granted, the amount of time, holidays, weekends, and more are up for debate.
When you’re dealing with a difficult child custody matter, you need support. We’re here to provide it. In addition to legal representation with a child custody lawyer, the following resources and information may be helpful.
Depending on the issues and complexity involved, in Garner, NC, child custody cases are either handled in Johnston County District Court or the Family Court Offices of the Wake County Courthouse.
A wide variety of child custody and support resources are available for Garner residents.
Child custody disputes are stressful and emotionally charged. You know what’s right for your kids. Now, you need a family court to agree with you.
We have helped countless families in and around Garner resolve complex child custody issues and related matters. We can help with yours, too.
To schedule a consultation with a Garner custody lawyer who’s ready to get started, call the Breeden Law Office at (919) 661-4970 or contact us online.
Call Breeden Law Office today:
Call (919) 661-4970