Determining a child custody arrangement that serves your and your child’s best interests is complicated and emotionally exhausting. Matters become even worse when you and your ex disagree on what situation would be best for your child. Fortunately, a Charlotte child custody lawyer from Melone Hatley, P.C., can help.
Melone Hatley P.C. has many years of experience handling child custody cases like yours. You can rest assured that our highly skilled legal team has what it takes to get an outcome that meets your child’s needs and sets them up for a bright future.
How a Child Custody Lawyer in Charlotte Can Help You
Even if you and your ex agree on legal and physical custody arrangements, it is beneficial to have a trusted Charlotte family lawyer by your side. You never know when the other party will change their mind, plunging your case into a contested custody battle.
When that happens, you’ll be happy you hired an experienced representative.
Whether your custody case goes to court or is settled through mediation, it’s in your and your child’s best interest to hire a skilled lawyer. Here’s what an attorney can do to ensure your custody case goes as smoothly as possible:
- Charlotte Child Custody Modifications Lawyer: There may cause to file for custody agreement modifications when changes like housing instability, lack of employment, or relocation is disputed. An experienced child custody lawyer can explain your rights and custody options, negotiate a custody arrangement with the other parent’s attorney and advise how to protect your children during the divorce process.
- Charlotte Temporary Custody Lawyer: If a situation or circumstances arise in which a parent feels their child is in danger, filing for temporary custody can feel like a daunting ordeal. Temporary Child Custody and Permanent Child Custody are two different types of orders; it’s important to know what each process entails to petition the court for an order that will stipulate what is necessary and legally binding to ensure the safety of your child.
- Charlotte Child Support Lawyer: You should be as meticulous as possible when completing the required paperwork that details your finances and expenses, especially as a parent in a child support case. A family law attorney can advocate on your behalf during mediation and help you calculate child support so that you can negotiate a fair amount.
- Charlotte Divorce Lawyer: Divorce can be difficult to process on it is own, but when children are involved, the tumultuous nature of changing dynamics can be overwhelming. A family divorce lawyer will advise you on avoiding common divorce case mistakes and fight for an outcome that benefits your child,
Types of Child Custody Arrangements Our Team Can Help With
Child custody isn’t just about where your child spends their time. While a custody arrangement will dictate where your child lives, it will also determine which parent will make major decisions about your child’s life. That’s why child custody is divided into different types.
At Melone Hatley, P.C., we’ve helped countless clients negotiate a variety of different custody arrangements. You can trust us to offer clear advice and effective advocacy if you and your ex are considering one or more of the following types of child custody arrangements:
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Joint Legal Custody
As mentioned above, child custody arrangements also give one or both parents the legal right to make major life decisions for the children involved. In a joint legal custody arrangement, you and the other parent will work together to make decisions regarding your child’s healthcare, education, and religious involvement.
Joint Physical Custody
If your arrangement includes joint physical custody, your child will spend time with you and the other parent. While some joint physical custody situations involve children spending 50% of their time with one parent and 50% with the other, that’s not always the case.
An attorney can help you and your ex negotiate a joint physical custody arrangement that suits your lifestyle and serves your child’s best interests.
Sole Legal Custody
Sole legal custody refers to an arrangement where you or the other parent makes all major life decisions for your child. If you are seeking a sole legal arrangement, you might face legal difficulties, especially if the other parent is seeking sole or joint legal custody.
The good news is that a custody attorney from Charlotte can take on your case and push for a fair outcome. No matter how complicated negotiations and court proceedings are, we’ll fight for an arrangement that benefits your child’s mental health, physical safety, and future.
Sole Physical Custody
A sole physical custody arrangement is one where your child will spend 100% of their time with you or the other parent. That said, the other parent may be granted visitation rights, allowing them to have some parenting time. In those types of situations, the non-custodial parent may pay child support to the parent that your child lives with.
When seeking sole physical custody or dealing with child support negotiations, you can turn to our lawyers for help. We’ll pursue a physical custody arrangement and child support order that protects your child’s best interests.
How Child Custody Is Determined in Charlotte, NC, Courts
While many child custody arrangements are determined through negotiation and mediation, there’s always a chance that your case will go to trial. If that happens, you’ll need a seasoned attorney to represent you during court proceedings.
Our custody lawyers understand what a court bases custody decisions on. We can collect and present the evidence required to get a ruling that meets your child’s needs. According to North Carolina General Statute NCGS § 50-13.2, courts must consider your child’s “best interests” when deciding on a custody arrangement.
Here are some of the factors the court will consider when determining which type of arrangement will serve your child’s best interests:
- The age of your child, taking into account their developmental needs and care requirements.
- Your child’s health and emotional well-being, including any special considerations such as breastfeeding.
- Your child’s expressed preferences, if they are of sufficient age and maturity to form a reasoned opinion.
- Each parent’s capacity to provide for your child’s physical, emotional, and educational needs.
- The mental and physical health of you and the other parent, as it affects your ability to care for your child.
- The importance of maintaining your child’s relationships with siblings and extended family members, considering your child’s existing bonds and social network.
- Your willingness and ability to support and facilitate your child’s ongoing relationship with the other parent, promoting a positive co-parenting environment.
- Any history of domestic violence or abuse within the family, with your child’s safety and welfare as the paramount concern.
As you can see, the court will weigh a number of different factors when making a decision on your custody arrangement. If you’re in a child custody battle, you won’t want to enter court proceedings without a dedicated representative.
Our child custody attorneys in Charlotte will present evidence and arguments that take the above-mentioned factors into account.
Meet With a Skilled Child Custody Lawyer
When you enter custody negotiations or legal proceedings, the outcome can have a significant impact on your child’s health, emotional well-being, and future. To get the outcome that benefits your child the most, you’ll want to work with a Charlotte child custody lawyer from Melone Hatley, P.C.
Our firm can provide the legal advice, resources, and advocacy you need to protect your child’s best interests. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a knowledgeable attorney from our firm. They’ll meet with you to discuss your situation and explain your legal options.
