Lafayette Child Custody Lawyer

Lafayette Child Custody Attorney

Divorce is always a difficult milestone, but it becomes even more complicated when children are involved. When it’s time to begin the process, parents and the Lafayette court system are responsible for making life-altering decisions about the children’s futures. A Lafayette child custody lawyer can be an invaluable ally to help protect your interests while minimizing as much disruption as possible to your children’s lives.

Our legal team is dedicated to helping clients through the most difficult points in their lives. With over 25 years practicing family law, Eric S Neumann is prepared to ensure a child custody order that benefits both you and your child.

Understanding the Intricacies of Child Custody Law

A Lafayette child custody and family lawyer is not only well-versed in divorce laws but is also sensitive to the emotional toll child custody proceedings can have on an entire family. Because of this, a divorce attorney will help remove specific burdens to ease unnecessary stressors, such as unfamiliarity with the following:

• Legal versus physical custody: Custody law is separated into two different types: legal and physical. Legal custody is when a parent has the right to make important decisions about a child’s life, such as where they receive an education and what type of medical treatment they receive. Physical custody determines where the child is spending time and where they will live.
• Joint versus sole custody: If someone has joint custody of their children with their ex-spouse, it means that both parents are required to share in critical decision-making and care.

For example, if a child was having difficulties in a specific school, both parents would collectively decide which other school would be a good option. In a sole custody arrangement, the parent with sole custody does not have any legal obligation to take the other parent’s opinion into consideration for these types of decisions.

• The interests of the children: The interests of a child must be prioritized above any other trivial matter in a divorce. This principle will guide every decision made.

For example, factors such as a child’s age, their maturity to express a preference, and emotional ties between both parents will all be taken into consideration by the court. This is not to diminish the desires of each parent but rather to reinforce that your wishes will be balanced with protecting a child’s welfare in the eyes of the court.

• Visitation and parenting plans: In joint custody arrangements, the other parent has a visitation schedule. This is to ensure that while one parent may be more separate from the other, there is still an opportunity to maintain a strong and loving connection.

A lawyer will be able to detail an appropriate parenting plan that considers where the children will be for certain holidays, school breaks, and other significant occasions throughout the year.

Should You Talk to Your Ex During a Custody Battle?

There is, unfortunately, not a universal answer to this question. However, there are a number of different considerations to keep in mind when in the midst of a custody battle for your children especially in Lafayette . These include:

• Legal advice: You always want to follow the advice and guidance of your attorney. They have the strongest grip on the legal system and the details of your case, and they will guide their strategy to protect you and your rights.
• Communication orders: If there are any orders set in place, such as a no-contact order or specific instructions for communication during the divorce proceedings, these must be strictly followed. Any evidence they have been violated can have repercussions that impact the outcome of the child custody order.
• Co-parenting: If there is a co-parenting arrangement during the custody battle, it is expected that both parents will have some level of communication to keep the family running smoothly. Both parties must try to keep communication focused on matters related to co-parenting and remain as respectful as possible.
• Conflict escalation: You want to avoid any interaction that could escalate to conflict as much as possible. Even if you think you would be able to enter a conversation with your ex-spouse during the custody battle, there are many emotional triggers that could disrupt the court and make matters worse.

To protect the integrity of the custody proceedings and prevent any unnecessary distractions, avoid communication with your ex as much as possible.

Contact Eric S. Neumann, Attorney at Law, Today

If you need assistance with your custody battle, contact the child custody attorneys at Eric S. Neumann, Attorney at Law. No matter how complicated your case may seem, we have the knowledge and experience to guide you through the process and fight for your rights as a parent.