Queens Child Custody Attorney
One of the most challenging aspects of any divorce or separation is the impact it will have on your children. While both you and your spouse love and want only the best for them, deciding how to share parenting time and responsibilities of your children can become a contentious issue.
When you need experienced, compassionate legal help with creating a child custody plan that meets your family’s unique needs, contact the Law Offices of Vivien I. Stark. We have decades of experience negotiating, mediating, and litigating child custody and visitation issues for parents from all walks of life.
The attorneys at the Law Offices of Vivien I. Stark are:
- Honest and determined;
- Dedicated to providing exceptional and responsive service; and
- Devoted solely to the practice of family law.
Schedule a confidential consultation today with a Queen’s child custody attorney. We look forward to discussing our approach to custody and visitation matters with you.
Let a Queens Child Custody Attorney Help You
At the Law Offices of Vivien I. Stark, we manage the complex legal issues in your custody case and keep your case on track to a resolution. We also help to clarify your legal positions and back them up with evidence to support your arguments.
Your child custody attorney from the Law Offices of Vivien I. Stark will also ensure:
- Your custody options are explained to you;
- Any questions or concerns you have about custody and visitation are addressed;
- All of your court documents are filed and served in a proper and timely fashion;
- Any final custody and visitation orders are correct and unambiguous;
- A child support calculation is in place for your children’s needs; and
- Your interests are represented at all times, both inside and outside of the courtroom.
Call or contact the Law Offices of Vivien I. Stark to make your initial appointment now. We can provide you with an objective evaluation of your case and advise you of your next legal steps.
Two Types of Child Custody in Queens
There are two types of child custody in Queens. These are physical custody and legal custody. Physical custody refers to where a child lives, and legal custody refers to the right to make significant decisions in a child’s life.
A parent with legal custody has the ability to make decisions regarding a child’s:
- Education;
- Religious upbringing;
- Medical care; and
- Other legal decisions.
Joint Custody Vs. Sole Custody
Parents may share physical and legal custody. This is called joint custody. Or, one parent may have sole physical or legal custody. The parent with whom the children reside primarily is called the primary physical custodian.
When parents share physical custody, both parents spend substantial time with their children. This does not mean they have equal time.
When possible, the courts prefer parents share legal custody of their children. This allows both parents to take an active role in decision-making and major parenting decisions.
While a parent may have sole physical and legal custody of their children, this is a rare occurrence. Generally this happens only in cases of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence.
Visitation in Queens
Parents without primary physical custody are typically awarded visitation per an agreed schedule between the parents or a standard schedule generated by the courts. Or, the judge may see fit to order another type of visitation schedule.
If there are child safety concerns, visitation may be ordered supervised by a family member or third-party.
The Child’s Best Interests
The court has broad discretion when making child custody and visitation decisions. The court’s goal is the best interests of the children, and it reviews each case accordingly. Neither the mother or father receives any special preference, regardless of the child’s age.
Contact an Experienced Queen’s Child Custody Attorney
If you are facing child custody challenges, or will be in the near future, get legal help as soon as possible. At the Law Offices of Vivien I. Stark, our New York child custody attorneys have the knowledge and resources to fight for the best interests of you and your children.
Speak with a professional in Queens today. We want to answer your child custody questions and put you on the path to the custody plan you desire.