Child Custody Battles: Strategies and Insights from Family Law Attorneys

If you have children, the most challenging part of getting a divorce is often the child custody battle. It is a deeply emotional journey laden with complexities and sensitivities. Of course, you will need to hire a skilled and professional child custody lawyer in Pennsylvania. Our attorneys will guide you every step of the way.

Understand Child Custody Laws in Pennsylvania

Before our child custody lawyers in Pennsylvania can get into the details of your situation, you should know the basics of child custody. Here are a few things you need to know.

1. Legal Custody: Legal custody grants the authority to make major decisions about your child's life. With legal custody, you can make decisions about your child’s education, healthcare, and religious upbringing.
2. Physical Custody: Physical custody determines where your will child live on a day-to-day basis. Usually, one of the parents tends to get this custody as children need a stable environment for growth. If you have physical custody, you are responsible for your child's daily care, providing a stable home environment, and meeting their everyday needs.
3. Visitation Rights: When physical custody cannot be split evenly or close to it, one parent gets visitation rights instead. Visitation rights, also known as parenting time or access, outline the non-custodial parent's schedule for spending time with the child. This arrangement allows both parents to be involved in their child even though only one has physical custody.

The court will first consider what is in the best interest of your children. They are most interested in providing your child with a stable, safe, and healthy home. Usually, state and local laws will decide the factors that affect child custody.

How Do You Navigate Your Child Custody Battle?

Facing a child custody battle is daunting, but armed with strategies from our family law attorneys, you can overcome this challenge.

1. Effective Communication: Maintain open, respectful communication with the other parent. You need a clear, civil dialogue to mitigate conflicts and ease the process for everyone involved. If they won’t communicate effectively with you, you need to record your attempts at communication to show the court.
2. Documentation and Organization: Speaking of recording, the next tip is to document all important meetings, agreements, and incidents. It's better to keep a record of your emails, messages, and conversations. Organize financial records, school reports, and relevant documents meticulously. All of this is solid evidence to support your case.
3. Keep Your Child's Best Interests in Mind: Courts prioritize the child's well-being as should you. Consider what's best for your child and how it will affect the court’s custody decision. These factors usually include a child’s stability, emotional and physical health, as well as the child's preferences if they are of a certain age.
4. Maintaining Stability: Provide a stable, consistent environment for your child. Judges appreciate routines that promote the child's emotional security. Demonstrate your capability to offer a nurturing, dependable home.
5. Get Ready for the Court: Whether or not your case goes to trial, you will need to appear in court a few times. So, familiarize yourself with courtroom etiquette. Expect to face potential questions and practice articulating your points clearly. Consult your child custody lawyer in PA in this regard.
6. Try Mediation: Mediation offers you a less adversarial, more collaborative approach to resolving child custody disputes. As it promotes open communication, you can draft an agreement that suits you and your ex. It is also quicker and more cost-effective than a trial. But you would still need a child custody attorney during mediation. We provide legal guidance, helping you understand your rights and responsibilities. But above all, your lawyer ensures the discussions remain focused, respectful, and legally sound. Mediation is not only meant to resolve disputes but also to preserve parental relationships. It helps promote a healthier environment for your children. So, try to resolve your custody dispute through mediation.
7. Prepare for Trial: If all your attempts to resolve the child custody dispute through mediation fail, your case will go to trial. As mentioned, trials are time-consuming, costly, and emotionally draining. This is a formal court process where the judge and jury assess evidence, including testimonies, documents, and expert opinions. Of course, the judge evaluates the child's best interests before reaching a decision.

As you can imagine, your family law attorneys will play a vital role in the trial. We will gather the evidence, prepare compelling arguments, and ensure your every move adheres to court procedures. Remember, this can significantly influence the court's decision. If the decision is not in your favor or as expected, you may challenge it in the higher court.

Contact the Child Custody Attorneys at Lermitte & Lubin, LLC for Help

As important as they are, child custody battles are often emotionally draining, time-consuming, complex, and expensive endeavors. The most crucial aspects of this process include communication, maintaining stability, and understanding your child's needs. Nothing matters more. For this, you will need a competent child custody lawyer in PA, a well-prepared legal strategy, and patience to help win this battle. For the family law attorneys you need, contact us at Lermitte & Lubin. We can help you. Call 570-339-9594 or fill out our online form to schedule a free consultation.