Child Custody Lawyers Helping Clients Find Solutions in Chandler, AZ

When going through a divorce or legal separation, one of the most important matters to deal with is who will take legal custody of the children. The process of separation has probably already caused emotional and financial strain on the couple, but they must take into account the effect this has had on their children as well. It is beneficial for the child’s relationship with the parents and even for the children’s future to have these matters settled as quickly as possible. The question of custody will decide where the children will live, who will provide for them financially, and how often they will visit or live with each parent. If you, like many parents, are hoping to have these custody and visitation questions settled easily and fairly, the number one thing you can do is to hire an attorney who will help find the best solution for your family. At The Sampair Group, we are prepared to help get you the custody rights you are looking for and find the best custody arrangement for your children. Call today to schedule a consultation where we can discuss the details of your case and find out what steps to take at 623-777-3909.

What Kinds of Child Custody Are There?

The child custody and visitation plan that works for your family can look very different from what another family might have arranged. Your parenting plan will depend on many different factors, such as the parent’s home environment, their financial ability to provide for the children, and of course, the child’s preference will be taken into account as well. The following list includes some options in the state of Arizona for how to handle a custody agreement:

Sole Custody

When this form of child custody is used, one parent has the sole legal responsibility for the child. They have all decision-making abilities and are responsible for caring for and providing for the children after the divorce or separation.

Alternating Custody

Alternating custody means the child’s time is divided equally between the two parents. After spending time in one parent’s home, they will travel to be with the other parent for the specified amount of time.

Shared Custody

This form of child custody refers to the scenario where the children travel back and forth between their parent’s homes, similar to how alternating custody would be. The difference is that in shared custody, both parents retain legal authority at all times rather than only having this power while the children are physically with them.

Bird’s Nest Custody

In bird’s nest custody, the burden of traveling falls on the parents rather than on the children. While the children stay in the same home, the parents alternate who comes and lives with them. This provides consistency for the children but can be difficult for parents to manage because of the restraints on their employment and social life.

Joint Legal Custody

Joint legal custody simply means that both parents share legal responsibility for the children. It is the opposite of sole legal custody, where only one parent has legal decision-making capabilities. It is possible to retain joint legal custody even if one parent has sole physical custody.

Split Custody

In split child custody, the parents divide up the children and have custody over some but not all of them. One parent may retain legal custody of one child while the other parent has full custody of the other child.

Third-Party Custody

In third-party custody, neither parent retains legal custody over any of the children, but it is handed over to another individual. This may occur when the biological parents are unable to care for the children for reasons such as mental health, drug addictions, or incarceration, among others.

With so many variations on how custody can work, and as custody is an incredibly important decision that will affect the child’s future, it is absolutely necessary to have a family law attorney on your side helping to resolve these issues. When you have The Sampair Group on your side, you can rest assured that your case will be handled with the utmost care, and the question of child custody matters will be decided in the quickest and the best possible manner.

How Does Arizona Law Affect Child Custody?

In the state of Arizona, child custody is an extremely important legal matter and is handled according to specific statutes. One example of Arizona law that governs child custody is that both parents have equal rights as well as obligations toward their minor child. During a divorce, the court must decide how to divide these rights and duties. It is also important to note that the court legally cannot favor one parent over the other simply based on gender. Also, regardless of the parenting plans that are decided by the court, both parents continue to retain the right to access their child’s medical and educational records unless parental rights are terminated entirely. These legal issues are complicated but very important for your family following a separation. With so much at stake, you’ll need a knowledgeable child custody attorney who can get you the results you need. We want to help. Contact our office right away for a consultation to discuss the details of your case.

What Happens During a Child Custody Case in Arizona?

During the divorce process in Arizona, the child custody arrangements for any children in the family are automatically considered by the court. If possible, you and your spouse can try to reach a decision on the child custody agreement on your own. If it doesn’t work to come to an agreement together, it is possible to use mediation to find a resolution. With the failure of a mediator to help you make a decision, the court will step in and order the best child custody arrangement they can come to. Some of the questions that will be answered in the custody hearings are who will support the children financially and whether any child support payments will be necessary, how to handle visitation rights, including on holidays, and whether custody will be held by one parent or shared and in what proportion, and even questions on paternity as needed. If your case is going before the court, or even if you need help with mediation between you and your spouse, your best choice is to go to a talented legal team like The Sampair Group.

Should I Hire Child Custody Lawyers?

A couple going through the divorce process has many important decisions to make. One of the most critical things they will determine is how to handle the physical and legal custody and child support for their minor children. How child custody is handled will determine many factors in their child’s future, including the child’s education, their physical and mental health, the children’s religious upbringing, and how much the children or parents will need to travel. A skilled child custody attorney from our law firm will be your best asset in getting the best possible outcome in your child custody case. Please contact us right away to schedule a consultation where we can discuss the details of your case and determine what steps to take to finalize the best custody arrangement for you. Call us today at 623-777-3909.