Child Custody: How A Lawyer Can Help When Going Through A Divorce
Are you going through a divorce and want full custody of your children? You must be able to prove that your spouse is a negligent parent before you can be awarded full custody, unless he or she agrees to it. A divorce lawyer will be able to assist you with the entire process and make sure your actions will be in the best interest of the children so the judge will approve.
How Can a Lawyer Assist with Child Custody in a Divorce?
When you initially hire a divorce lawyer, he or she will ask specific questions about the marriage to determine the type of environment the children are living in. You must give details as to why you believe the children will be better off if you have full custody. If your spouse spends a lot of time away from home, is having an affair or is mentally or physically abusive, you may have a chance of gaining full custody.
You lawyer will help you come up with evidence by providing the following services:
- Finding witnesses
- Investigating an affair
- Obtaining police reports of abuse
- Helping you obtain a restraining order
If your lawyer does not believe that you have a chance at getting full custody, he or she may suggest that you agree to joint custody. Trying to get full custody with no real evidence against your spouse can make it seem as though you are trying to keep the children away out of bitterness. If you and your spouse are good parents, the judge will want the children to have equal time with both of you.
How Does Child Support Work After a Divorce?
You and your spouse will be responsible for financially supporting the children. If you are award full custody, your spouse will have to give you regular child support payments that are dependent on how much income he or she is bringing in. If joint custody is the final resolution, neither you nor your spouse may have to pay child support. However, it can also be determined that both of you will have to pay child support during the periods when the children are living with the other spouse.
Going through a divorce can be a stressful time for children, so it is in your best interest to keep things as simple as possible for them. Hire a divorce lawyer like Hart Law Offices, PC to get through your custody battle the right way so the best interest of the children will be the main focal point!