Divorce changes families. Even in the best divorce circumstances, those changes can cause emotional turmoil, especially for the children. A Bristol family lawyer from Rich Rochlin Family Law can work to help you develop a child custody agreement that restores a sense of peace and stability to your children’s (and your) lives.
Our firm has been verified by Trust Index as a “top-rated service,” and a caring, insightful child custody lawyer in Bristol will show you how we earned that rating. We will work diligently to secure an arrangement that recognizes your rights and supports your child’s well-being.
How a Child Custody Attorney in Bristol Can Help You
Determining a child custody arrangement can be one of the most high-stress, high-conflict aspects of the divorce process. The outcome affects your family for years to come. To ensure the best possible outcome, partner with a skilled legal advocate.
An attorney may be able to help you come to an arrangement without a court battle by serving as a Connecticut parent coordinator. This option has benefits and usually results in more peaceful resolutions. Arguing before a judge can make fraught family conflicts even worse.
Still, not all divorcing couples should use a parent coordinator. If your ex has been abusive in any way, your child custody attorney in Bristol can offer critical guidance and work to keep you and your children safe. Our team can also help you understand how to prepare your child for your divorce and how to support them through the process.
Call today for a consultation with a child custody lawyer serving Bristol (860) 357-9158
Understanding Child Custody in Connecticut
According to Child Custody Actions in Connecticut, a child custody determination is a “judgment, decree, or other order of the court providing for the legal custody, physical custody, or visitation with respect to a child.” Child custody determinations do not address issues of child support:
- Legal custody determines the role each parent plays in making important decisions for the child. For example, decisions about healthcare, education, and religious instruction.
- Physical custody determines where and with which parent the child lives.
Child custody agreements can assign joint or sole custodial rights to parents. Joint custody means both parents bear the responsibility and privilege of making decisions for or caring for the child, while sole custody assigns those rights to one parent. Parents may share joint legal custody, while one parent holds sole physical custody.
The Child’s Best Interests
The court’s focus is on serving the best interests of the child. A Bristol child custody lawyer will work to present your position to the court, showing your preferred arrangement does indeed recognize your child’s best interests. This representation is important whether your divorce is amicable or contentious.
Child custody is a high-stakes issue with intense emotional responses. We offer compassionate support to help you through those emotions. We also know how to protect your parental rights and will fight to keep your relationship with your child healthy and whole.
Visitation Agreements
Per section 46b-56a of the Connecticut General Assembly (CGA), the court presumes joint custody serves the best interests of the child. Still, a parent may have sole physical custody of the child. The parents may have agreed to this arrangement to give the child a sense of stability. Whatever the reasons for the arrangement, the non-custodial parent will likely get visitation rights.
According to Child Visitation Actions in Connecticut, visitation is “A court order deciding the amount of time a noncustodial parent may spend with his or her child, also called parenting time or access.” Non-parental figures, such as grandparents or other third parties, can also petition the court for visitation.
Bristol Child Custody Lawyer Near Me (860) 357-9158
We Can Handle Unique Child Custody Situations
Sadly, not all parents can provide a safe, nurturing, healthy environment for a child. If one or both parents use drugs, act abusively, or neglect the child, joint custody or any form of parental custody may not be possible. Rich Rochlin Family Law is here to help in these difficult situations as well.
You may be fighting to get full custody of a child as a mother. We can lead that fight for you. You might be seeking custody as a grandparent. Among others, grandparents can file for custody for these common reasons: parental substance abuse, mental illness, serious medical illness, or death. Our team can help build your case and present your petition to the court.
The process for determining child custody for unmarried couples typically follows the same procedures as for married couples. If there are questions regarding paternity, however, the situation becomes more complicated. Again, we can handle those complications. We know what to do.
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When You Need to Change Custody Arrangements
You may have a child custody agreement in place, but it might not serve your child’s or your family’s needs any longer. You can apply to have the agreement modified. A Bristol child custody attorney can help you pursue a modification.
The Family Forms page of the Connecticut Judicial Branch site includes several forms you’ll need to complete when making your request. Your request must show that “substantial changes in circumstances” have prompted your request. You must deliver the paperwork to the Superior Court Clerk’s office, and a state marshal serves the papers to the other party.
Then, you’ll attend a hearing, and the court will render a decision. An experienced attorney can provide effective representation at the hearing and ensure all paperwork has the correct information. Mistakes can slow or end the modification process.
Examples of Substantial Changes in Circumstances
A substantial change in circumstances could involve changes in one parent’s:
- Financial situation
- Location
- Physical or mental health
- Work schedule
- Refusal to honor visitation schedules
Shifts in the child’s needs could also prompt a request. The child’s academic, emotional, or social needs could warrant custody changes.
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Your Family Matters to Us
The team at Rich Rochlin Family Law values family. Your family matters to us. We know that divorce is difficult.
A Bristol child custody lawyer can help make dealing with child custody matters, or other aspects of your divorce, a little easier. Count on us for the compassionate support and effective advocacy you need.
Let us help navigate your family legal matters schedule your consultation now.
