GADSDEN CHILD CUSTODY LAWYER
You have a Constitutional right to raise your children. Is your spouse, former spouse, child’s mother/father, or grandparent trying to take your children away from you? At Dani V. Bone & Sam D. Bone, Attorneys at Law, our lawyers are ready to discuss the how to fight to get custody of your kids.
When parents divorce, one of the biggest questions they must address is how to maintain each person’s ongoing relationship with the children. Where will the children live? How often will each parent see them? How involved will each parent be in both the day-to-day tasks of raising the child and in making major decisions, such as choosing schools, daycare, and doctors for the child?
WHO IS THE BEST CUSTODY LAWYER IN ALABAMA?
Tackling these questions is a big task, and your child’s well-being depends on it. At Dani V. Bone & Sam D. Bone, Attorneys at Law our compassionate Gadsden child custody lawyers, have the experience and skills needed to:
Negotiate an acceptable child custody agreement informally or through mediation.
Argue for a fair child custody arrangement before a judge.
Pursue modifications to child custody agreements for parents when circumstances change.
Arguing over what’s best for your children can be an extremely draining experience. Our supportive child custody attorneys understand how taxing this is for you, and our team is here to help relieve some of the stress and encourage you to stay focused on the best possible outcome.
If you feel like you are fighting an uphill child custody battle and need a strong child custody attorney in your corner, contact us today. We have more than 20 years’ experience fighting for families throughout Northern Alabama.
WHAT IS BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD IN ALABAMA?
In Alabama, child custody agreements must be made with the goal of meeting “the best interests of the child.” For example, courts do not automatically grant custody to mothers or take it away from a spouse who has been unfaithful, unless additional evidence is presented to show that the custody agreement is best for the child. To decide whether a custody agreement is in the “best interests of the child,” Alabama courts consider several factors. These include:
The children’s ages and health.
Each child’s current state of emotional development.
Which parent has been their primary caregiver.
How well each parent has cared for the children.
The relationship the children have with each parent and each parent’s family.
Where they might live and go to school.
Which parent takes care of things such as teacher conferences and doctor’s visits.
The willingness of each parent to work with the other and to do what is best for the children.
The children’s preferences, if the children are old enough to voice an opinion.
WHAT ARE THE STEPS OF CHILD CUSTODY?
STEPS FOR RESOLVING CHILD CUSTODY IN ALABAMA
Divorcing parents in Alabama are not required to go in front of a judge to have their child custody agreements determined. Instead, the typical steps for resolving child custody issues include:
Parents can work together through informal negotiations to decide on a child custody agreement. As long as the parents and their lawyers can demonstrate that the agreed-upon plan is in the children’s best interests, the court is likely to approve it.
Many parents seeking to create a custody plan agree to participate in mediation. During the mediation process, you and your child’s other parent sit down with your respective lawyers and a neutral third-party mediator. The mediator’s role is to help both sides reach “common ground,” but the mediator may not force either side to agree to a particular decision.
If mediation fails, the parties are free to try again or try another form of alternative dispute resolution or negotiation. It’s important to note that many “sticking points” can be successfully worked out in mediation, and the process is often less expensive than a trial. If the parents cannot hammer out a child custody agreement, the court will create one. If you and your spouse are having trouble agreeing on a custody plan, the first step is to talk to one of our experienced Gadsden child custody lawyers. Our compassionate and creative legal team will work with you to find ways to negotiate the “trouble spots” and try to create a suitable plan. Contact us today to discuss what might be holding up your child custody case and how we can help you push through it.
WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHILD CUSTODY AND SUPPORT?
Under Alabama child custody law, joint custody is considered to be in the child’s best interests, unless specific evidence is presented to demonstrate that it is not. Therefore, courts encourage parents to find ways to share custody. When joint physical and legal custody is shared equally, or nearly equally: The parents may not need to address issues of child support. Because equally shared joint custody often means that both parents contribute equally to the costs of the child’s needs, no support payments are necessary.
When a child custody arrangement is “lopsided”: It is more likely that the parent who spends less time with the child will need to contribute to the child’s well-being in a financial way, by paying child support. In Alabama, child support is calculated according to a formula that considers factors such as both parents’ gross monthly income (before taxes), costs of childcare and medical insurance, and whether either parent is already paying child support for other children or alimony to a previous spouse.
HOW CAN I CHANGE A CHILD CUSTODY AGREEMENT IN ALABAMA?
Children grow up quickly, and circumstances can change over the years. Alabama allows parents to seek modification of a child custody or support agreement when it is necessary to continue meeting the child’s best interests. To seek a change in a custody or visitation order:
The best way to approach a change is to try to work out a new agreement with your child’s other parent before filing the necessary paperwork. The court is more likely to make the change if both parents agree and the change does not harm the child’s interests. If you and the other parent cannot agree on a change, you will need to have a strong argument for modification.
Our experienced Gadsden child custody modification lawyers can help you build a solid case as to why the change in custody and visitation is necessary and is in the best interests of your children. We will also ensure the proper paperwork is filed to keep your case moving forward in the courts.
We understand that your children are the most important thing in your life. That’s why we will fight so hard for your rights to custody. Even in the most frustrating situations, our dedicated Gadsden child custody lawyers will push forward with smart strategies to keep your case on track. After all, our goal is to keep you focused on the positive outcome you want for your case and your family.
If you are facing a complicated child custody battle, contact us today to find out how our skilled and compassionate team will fight to protect the rights of you and your children.
Don't take chances with your children's future. Contact us right now. We treat every client with respect and work hard every day to deliver favorable results. Contact the Gadsden Child Custody Lawyers Dani V. Bone & Sam D. Bone at to discuss your case at (256) 547-1005.
