Charlotte Custody Lawyer
There are few family law issues that are more emotional and complex than that of child custody. For parents, not living with their child full time can be incredibly trying and seem unfair. What’s more, navigating the legal process and getting a judge to side in your favor can be overwhelming.
To guide you through the custody process and protect your best interests along the way, please reach out to our Charlotte custody lawyers at the office of the Speaks Law Firm, PC. Our lawyers have years of experience and are committed to fighting for our clients.
Types of Custody: Physical & Legal, Sole & Joint
If you are getting divorced or are separating from your child’s other parent, it’s important that you understand the different types of custody arrangements recognized under North Carolina law.
- Physical custody. Physical custody refers to which parent is responsible for the physical wellbeing and care of the child; in other words, this is with whom the child lives or spends the majority of their time.
- Legal custody. Even if one parent has sole physical custody, both parents may have legal custody. Legal custody refers to the authority to make decisions about the child’s life, such as where they go to school, the religion they are raised in, what their extracurricular activities are, and more.
- Joint custody. In most cases, the courts strive to keep both parents in a child’s life, and therefore joint custody arrangements are often preferred. In a joint custody arrangement, the physical and legal custody of a child is shared by both parents. These types of custody arrangements are most successful when the parents are committed to the child’s best interests and can maintain amicable relations as such.
- Sole custody. If the relationship between the parents is highly contentious or/and one parent is unfit to have custody, the court may award physical or legal (or both) custody to only one parent.
How Is Child Custody Determined?
Parents are strongly encouraged to work together to come to an agreement about how custody of a child should be shared. Only when parents cannot reach an agreement out of court will the court intervene. If the court intervenes, a judge must consider the best interests of the child. In calculating the child’s best interests, a judge might consider:
- Each parent’s ability and willingness to care for the child;
- The age and preferences of the child;
- The child’s relationship with each parent;
- The parents’ living arrangements; and
- Any other relevant factors.
Call Our Charlotte Custody Lawyers for the Support You Need
If you are trying to get custody of your child, our experienced and passionate child custody attorneys in Charlotte at the Speaks Law Firm, PC are here to help you. Please call us today or send us a message online telling us more about your case. We can answer any questions that you have and start working on your case immediately. When you’re navigating a child custody case, there’s a lot on the line–reach us now to get started.
What our clients are saying
KE
“I was very pleased with the way that Speaks Family Law handled my case. They worked hard to get the most money that they could. Everyone at the firm was always polite and always answered all of my concerns. I would definitely recommend Speaks Family Law to anyone who needs representation. I always knew that they were there anytime I needed them. A big “Thank you!” goes out to all of the people who are involved with the firm.”