Broomfield Parenting Time Lawyer
Visitation rights, which are generally known as “parenting time” in Colorado, may be an emotionally charged issue. The law recognizes that parents have a right to maintain an ongoing relationship with their children after a divorce or child custody case. At Plog & Stein, P.C., our child custody lawyers have decades of experience helping parents assert this right. Visitation matters can be complex, and having the right Broomfield parenting time lawyer on your side may make a critical difference in your case.
Let us help you with your family law case involving:
- Establishing Parenting Time Rights
- Modification of Visitation Orders
- Enforcing Parenting Time Orders
- Relocations
Determining Parenting Time Arrangements
In many situations, parents will be able to come to an agreement regarding custody and visitation with their minor children. However, if they are unable to come to their own agreement, the decision will be made by a judge. Contrary to some traditional views, courts will not give any automatic preference to the mother over the father. A judge is free to consider all of the factors that may be relevant to what is in the best interest of the child, including the child’s adjustment to their home, school, and community, the mental and physical health of everyone involved, and the physical proximity of the parties if this is relevant to the pragmatic considerations of parenting time. If the child is old enough, their own wishes regarding parenting time may be taken into account.
During a visitation determination, it is possible that a child expert may be needed to investigate and inform the court about what is in the best interest of the child. These experts are typically known as Child and Family Investigators (CFI) or Parental Responsibilities Evaluators (PRE). CFI’s and PRE’s are considered neutral third parties and courts are highly likely to follow their custody and visitation recommendations, unless gross ineptitude or misconduct is involved. Serving people throughout the Broomfield area, the parenting time attorneys at Plog & Stein, P.C. make it a point to assess each case in terms of whether an expert is needed and which specific expert would be a good fit for accomplishing our clients’ objectives.
“Primary residential custody” denotes the parent with whom the child will reside for a majority of the time. However, the designation of primary residential custodian generally does not have any bearing on the other parent’s visitation rights. In fact, it has become more common over the last decade for expansive, if not equal, visitation to be the norm. Of course, 50/50 time is not always in a child’s best interest and our attorneys know what factors the various courts look at when deviating from that norm. Primary residential custody may be altered through an agreement between the parties, when the issue of relocation arises, or if the court finds that the child is physically or emotionally at risk in the custodial parent’s home. Modifications of visitation entail different standards, depending upon the degree of change to the court ordered schedule being sought.
In most cases, there will also need to be a decision regarding holiday visitation. The first step is to identify holidays that are important to each parent and then to determine a way to allocate those holidays fairly between them. Typically, holidays are assigned to a parent on an alternating yearly basis. Issues of holidays depend on each family’s specific situation and also sometimes on the ages of the children. Vacation time is also a common part of any visitation order. In any case, detail and specificity as to these types of issues matter and can often prevent conflict down the road based on ambiguity. We understand that concrete orders matter and tend towards a less contentious future for both parents, and more importantly, the child.
Discuss Your Parenting Time Matter with a Broomfield Lawyer
The experience of raising a child should be rewarding and memorable, even when the parents decide to part ways. At Plog & Stein, P.C., our knowledgeable Broomfield parenting time attorneys understand that the stakes are high in these matters, and we can zealously advocate for your rights at every step of the way. We understand how important it is for parents to spend time with their children and have protected the interests of people throughout Colorado in these matters. To get started, call our family law lawyers in Denver at 303-781-0322 or fill our online contact form.
