Our North Carolina Family Law Firm Provides Dedicated Advocacy to Parents Throughout the Divorce Process and Child Custody Discussions
When the welfare and security of your children are at stake, you want a strong legal advocate to fight for their best interests. If you face the devastating prospect of losing time with your children or forfeiting other essential parental responsibilities, a knowledgeable attorney can assert your rights to raise your child in a healthy, thriving environment.
At the law offices of Kreider Attorneys at Law, we represent clients in North Carolina child custody disputes in the Greensboro area and throughout North Carolina. We are committed to protecting your ability to maintain a meaningful relationship with your child.
How is Child Custody Determined in North Carolina?
Many clients come to us with questions about their family law cases and concerns about how the courts make child custody determinations. A North Carolina court will consider various factors to determine what sort of child custody arrangement serves the child’s physical, emotional, religious, educational, and psychological well-being.
Factors that will be considered when making decisions that impact the child’s life include the following:
- Child’s preferences. If the child is deemed old enough and mature enough to express a reasonable preference, their personal wishes may influence a child custody arrangement
- Cooperation. The courts favor a collaborative process between the parents, whether dealing with divorce proceedings or legal separation agreements. The ability of each parent to promote healthy co-parenting relationships is crucial
- Geographical location issues. North Carolina courts will consider the proximity of both parent’s residences to the child’s chosen school, support network, other family members, and extracurricular activities
- History of care. A family law judge will examine each parent’s history of being a caregiver and providing consistent care and support to their children
- Moral fitness. Issues like substance abuse, domestic violence, or criminal history could negatively affect a parent’s ability to obtain custody
- Parenting skills. Family law courts will assess each parent’s ability to provide their children with a nurturing and safe environment. Factors that will be considered include temperament, home environment, and employment stability
- The child’s age. A family law judge is likely to prioritize the stability and attachment of younger children to one parent over the other, whereas older children may be allowed to voice their preferences
The legal issue of determining child custody and other family law matters like marital property division, a collaborative divorce, and more would benefit from family lawyers well-versed in the applicable laws. Please contact our law office to discuss our unique situation, and we will provide you with valuable legal advice. stop
What Are the Different Types of North Carolina Child Custody?
It’s important to understand the different types of child custody available in North Carolina. Every situation is unique, but these legal issues usually involve a decision on joint, sole, or temporary custody.
Physical custody relates to where the child primarily resides. Depending on the parenting plan, one parent could have primary physical custody or joint custody.
Legal custody allows parents to make major decisions about the child’s upbringing, including their religious teachings, healthcare decisions, educational pursuits, and more. Like physical custody, legal custody arrangements could either be sold or joint.
Temporary custody can be granted during divorce proceedings until a final custody arrangement is agreed upon. In some cases, emergency custody may also be possible.
Do You Need Our Legal Services to Help You Negotiate Visitation Rights?
Visitation rights come into play in situations where there is sole physical custody, ensuring that the non-custodial parent is able to maintain a meaningful, healthy relationship with their child. Standard visitation schedules and parenting plans may include provisions for alternating weekends, vacation time, school holidays, and other decisions meant to fit the unique needs of the family unit.
Our family lawyers will defend your legal rights as you negotiate a visitation plan that suits your needs and protects the children’s best interests. We will work tirelessly alongside you to explore every legal option and create a custody plan that aligns with your unique goals.
Every family lawyer at our law firm has extensive experience assisting clients through some of the most difficult times of their lives in family law matters. To learn more about the benefits of retaining our legal services, please contact our Greensboro law office to schedule your initial consultation with our legal team today.
How Do Prenuptial Agreements Affect Child Custody in North Carolina?
If a prenuptial agreement or postnuptial agreement contains any language about child custody or lifestyle clauses, the prenup will not be enforceable in a court of law. In North Carolina, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements cannot dictate child custody or child support arrangements, as these legal matters are based on the child’s best interests and not on any agreements made between the parents.
Prenuptial agreements have other values, such as determining spousal support and divorce settlements. To learn more about the advantages of signing a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement, please contact our family law attorneys.
Do You Need to Go to Court if Both Parents Agree on Child Custody Matters?
Reaching a mutual agreement with the other parent can make a huge difference in your family law case. Judges and legal professionals strongly encourage the collaborative process. However, even if you agree to an arrangement with the other parent, it is still recommended to formalize the agreement with an official court order. Without a court order, there could be questions as to whether the child custody arrangement will maintain its integrity in future disputes and is legally enforceable under the law.
Contact our family lawyers for legal assistance in adapting a consensual child custody agreement into a legally binding court order. By obtaining a court order from a family law judge, you can preserve the agreement’s stability while also providing a framework for both parents to adhere to, safeguarding the child’s interests in cases of unwarranted modifications or potential future misunderstandings.
Please contact us for legal guidance in these and other child custody matters.
What Evidence Should Be Presented in a Family Law Court?
It is essential to present compelling evidence to secure a favorable child custody settlement. Different types of evidence could prove crucial to making a sizable difference in convincing the courts of a suitable custody arrangement that aligns with your interests and the best interests of the children.
Essential evidence in child custody cases includes the following:
- Character references, such as those from mentors, colleagues, community leaders, and teachers, can help testify to an individual’s fitness as a parent
- Clear evidence of providing financial support, including child support obligation payments and statements of shared expenses, can help demonstrate your consistent contribution to your child’s reasonable needs
- Documented records that demonstrate your involvement in your child’s daily life, including logs of attendance at school functions, participation in doctor’s appointments, involvement in extracurricular activities, and more evidence that could demonstrate your commitment to your child’s development and well-being
- Present convincing evidence of a suitable and safe living environment for the children. Evidence that can back up such claims may include photographs or video of your home environment, lease agreements, and testimonies from neighbors attesting to positive living conditions
- Records of communication with the other parent, either through e-mail, text, or phone logs, can help illustrate your efforts to forge a healthy co-parenting relationship for the betterment of the children
Contact our highly skilled and compassionate North Carolina child custody attorneys for legal assistance in gathering the suitable evidence you may require for your family law case.
What Could Render a Parent Unfit for Custody?
The courts will consider several factors when determining whether a parent is unfit for child custody.
Factors may include the following:
- A history of domestic violence or child abuse will likely result in the courts determining a parent to be unfit as they pose a threat to the child’s safety and well-being
- Any evidence of child abuse or child neglect by either parent could result in them being considered unfit by a family law judge
- If a parent has a long history of substance abuse, particularly in the home environment, the court may consider them unfit
- Serious criminal activities can impact a parent’s perceived fitness in a role as a primary caregiver, particularly if their criminal acts threaten the child’s safety or well-being
- Severe and untreated mental health conditions that impair an adult’s ability to serve as a caregiver could affect their suitability for custody
If you are attempting to prove the other parent is unfit, you may require dedicated legal representation. Our law firm can assist you in building a strong case and advocating for your children’s legal rights if you believe the other parent is unfit to serve as a caregiver.
How Can Mediation Help Your Family Law Case?
Children are best served when parents maintain a cordial relationship. The structured process of mediation can help you both set aside anger and hostility and focus on the crucial issues concerning your children.
Mediation can be a highly effective tool for preserving stability and peace in your home during the turbulent process of divorce: it reduces the stress of child custody conflicts and puts important child-rearing decisions in your hands rather than in the hands of the court.
Our attorneys are skilled at maneuvering negotiations toward agreements that protect your child’s best interests and your parental rights.
Do You Need Our Greensboro Child Custody Lawyers to Represent Your Legal Rights in North Carolina Courts?
If your child’s other parent refuses to compromise or expresses hostility toward you during negotiations, or if they pose a danger to your child’s well-being because of past domestic violence or substance abuse, you must fight for your child’s best interests in court. Our skilled and persistent attorneys will work to make sure that your children are protected and your parental rights are secure.
The legal team of Kreider Attorneys at Law represents clients in matters related to:
- Primary and joint custody arrangements
- Visitation rights
- Grandparents’ rights
- Modification of custody and visitation orders
- Enforcement of orders
- Juvenile delinquency and dependency proceedings
- Decisions related to religion, education, and upbringing of the child
- Child support and spousal support
The uncertainty of litigation often compounds the stress and upheaval already present in your lives at this time. But with our assertive attorneys by your side, you can feel confident that your children are protected and your parental rights are secure.
Schedule an In-Depth Case Review with an Experienced Guilford County Family Law Attorney Today
Our family law firm offers compassionate legal services to clients facing legal issues they cannot contend with on their own. Whether you are collaborating on a parenting plan or involved in a child custody dispute, it is highly recommended that you seek professional legal counsel from experienced attorneys. As your legal representatives, our lawyers can assist you throughout the entire process in pursuit of the most optimal outcome for your family case possible.
For legal assistance during this difficult and emotionally challenging time in your life, please contact our Greensboro law firm to schedule your initial consultation with our legal team today.
You can reach us at 336-770-2017.