Child Custody Questions & Issues
Dallas-Fort Worth Family Law Attorney David Kohm Counsels On Many Child Custody Issues
As an experienced Fort Worth Divorce Attorney here in the DFW area, I know child custody is not a simple matter that everyone can always agree on. I recommend mediation or evaluation before taking this matter to the court. In most cases it’s best to avoid having the court become involved because then the judge is the final decision maker when it comes to custody of the children. One of the key benefits for using mediation or evaluation is the fact that each presents a more practical means to creating a feasible custody plan. Our Law Firm has an Attorney on staff who is a certified mediator and he is highly qualified to advise on child custody as part of the divorce process.
Mediation:
One of the first questions that need to be addressed is whether the children should be involved in determining custody arrangements. There are both negative and positive aspects to this question and a lot will be determined based on the child’s age, maturity level, and comprehension of the impending split up of their parents. I’m not implying that the children should decide, this is ultimately mom and dads decision. What is important is that if the children are old enough and mature enough, they can help with providing input into visitation, certain custody schedules, and support the overall mediation process.
We understand that in certain cases the children are too young or not mature enough to understand the mediation process and so we suggest that the parents use their discretion and determine the best way to discuss these custody issues with the children and if necessary have them present at the signing of the mediated agreement so they understand that mom and dad are still going to be there to take care of them.
Evaluation:
This process entails both parents agreeing to hire a neutral specialist (psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, or family counselor) to create a comprehensive analysis to evaluate the best suitable custody plan for recommendation to the court. Through interviews with family, the child’s school, family friends, and observing the child at home, the specialist can create the best plan for all involved. As you might guess, having an expert evaluate all of these facets that make up the report will be a benefit towards the final ruling and are done on an objective basis.
Summary:
Either of these programs is better than letting a judge have the ultimate decision. Our Arlington TX Family Law Attorneys can help you determine which is best for your custody issues. We will be there to advise and assist you during this difficult time and we want you to get the best results possible so call The Law Offices of David Kohm today for a free consultation or complete our online request form and my staff will contact you to discuss how we can help.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this information, it is not intended to provide legal advice as individual situations will differ and should be discussed with a qualified licensed attorney. For specific technical or legal advice on the information provided and related topics, please contact our law firm directly