Another way that child custody arrangements can change is if negative factors are discovered that could impact the child’s wellbeing. This could be anything from alcohol and dependency issues to domestic violence and abuse. If you feel that your child is unsafe in the other parent’s care, you should approach the court with evidence of this immediately.
Although you can reach an agreement in principle to change a custody arrangement with another parent, this will not be legally enforceable unless there is a court order in place. In these cases, it can be best to hire a family law attorney to represent you and your interests.
In an ideal world, both parents would be able to work with each other to create a co-parenting plan and minimize the impact of the divorce on the child’s life. Collaborative law can be useful for this kind of negotiation. However, sometimes a mutual agreement is not always possible.
Child custody issues are extremely sensitive and nuanced. If you have questions regarding your specific child custody case, or any other areas of divorce and family law, please feel free to call us for a consult. We will provide you with individualized legal counsel with one of our family lawyers. Ideally, you may find a reasonable way to resolve your child support issues that may not involve the courts at all. This could include negotiation, mediation, or the Collaborative Law process. A collaboratively trained attorney can help you work together through collaborative practice to find parenting solutions that will result in the best possible child custody arrangement for your children.
Keith Family Law is a full-service family law practice in Westfield, New Jersey that serves clients from Union County, Essex County, Hudson County, Morris County, Hunterdon County, Somerset County, Middlesex County, Monmouth County, and Warren County.