Custody Decisions In Your Children’s Best Interests
The time that each parent spends with their children during their formative years will have a lasting impact on the quality of family relationships and the children’s overall well-being. A divorce or separation is a time of difficult changes in many families. Setting aside adult issues for children’s sake is challenging but essential.
At The Law Office of Brian C. Christian, caring and experienced family law attorneys are skilled litigators serving the Virginia Beach metro area. We strongly recommend that parents resolve child custody arrangements amicably, but we are diligent to advise clients on how to protect their parental rights and vital parent-child relationships.
How Child Custody Decisions Are Typically Made In Virginia
Your child’s legal and physical custody will be part of the custody order that you come away with after taking your divorce or stand-alone custody case before a family law judge. Custody orders normally spell out the following:
- Legal custody: decision-making authority
- Physical custody: the child’s primary residence and primary custodial parent
- Joint physical custody, including visitation (parenting time) for the noncustodial parent
If parents cannot agree on an acceptable arrangement, a family law judge may make custody decisions based on factors such as:
- The age and health of the child(ren) and parent(s)
- The quality of established parent-child relationships
- Relationships with other family members, neighbors or classmates near each parent’s home
- The willingness of each parent to support the child’s relationship with the other parent
- Each child’s preference, if the family law judge considers them mature enough to weigh in
How Child Support Is Typically Determined; How To Seek A Modification Of A Custody Or Support Order
Virginia’s child support guidelines take into account unique family financial details, including:
- The income of both parents (and/or other parties who may be involved, such as a grandparent with custody)
- Spousal support responsibilities
- Day care expenses
- Children’s health insurance costs
Parents or others who are sharing custody and/or paying or receiving support may seek a modification if the finances or other circumstances of either or both parents have changed significantly.
Learn What You Need To Know To Resolve Your Custody And Support Case
At The Law Office of Brian C. Christian, we place a high priority on helping clients preserve strong parent-child relationships while honoring children’s best interests in all family law matters.
We can help you pursue the legal solutions that will support you and your child(ren) before and after your divorce or separation. Call us in Chesapeake at 757-931-6446 or contact us by email to request a consultation.