Ohio Child Custody Attorneys

Warren County Child Custody & Divorce Attorneys

When determining child custody in a divorce, the court will act in what it believes is the best interest of a child. Toward this end, the court considers a number of factors such as the income of both parents, their educational background, their role as primary or secondary caregiver, criminal history, and relationship with a child. As a result, there isn’t an automatic preference given to the mother or the parent who earns the most income. Rather, the court will take into consideration a number of issues and may order an in-home study or psychological evaluation of a child if it believes there is a need to do so. The court may award shared or “joint” custody where each parent has the right to make decisions for a child, or sole custody where only one parent has the legal authority to do so. Physical custody may also be shared, or it may be awarded to only one parent. In the case of the latter, the non-custodial parent will almost always have visitation rights that must be maintained according to a court-approved schedule.

For more information regarding child custody and divorce, contact the family law office of Rittgers & Rittgers today to schedule an appointment and discuss your case.

Determining Child Custody through Negotiation

The best way to determine child custody is through cooperation on the part of parents. Through collaboration, parents can arrive at a custody arrangement both parents find mutually agreeable. As part of the process, parents can create a parenting plan and set visitation schedules that work optimally for everyone involved. Most importantly, however, determining child custody through negotiation avoids having to go before a judge, present evidence, and then have him or her impose a custody decision that neither parent finds ideal.

Parental Relocations and Child Custody

Custody determinations can be affected by parental relocations out of state. Regardless of job opportunities or a parent’s connection to another town or city, the court will still place the best interests of a child first before approving a parental relocation. Here, the court will review educational opportunities in both places, proximity to other family members, the extent to which a child has already adapted to his or her current home, and whether adequate medical care exists in a new location if a child has a health condition. If the court believes a parental relocation will be disruptive and harmful, it may either deny the relocation or award custody to the other parent of a child.

Contact Warren County, Ohio Child Custody Attorneys

Child custody determinations can also be reversed if the lifestyle of a parent is deemed dangerous or harmful to a child. As a result, parents sometimes make allegations that need to be addressed or presented in court during child custody disputes. When necessary, our attorneys use investigators, child psychologists, and other experts when preparing and presenting our cases.

If you have questions about child custody and the legal options available to you, contact child custody attorneys at Rittgers & Rittgers today.