Centennial Child Custody Lawyer
Child Custody Attorneys Representing Centennial Clients
When children experience the upheaval of a divorce or the splitting up of their family, the situation can be very distressing for all parties involved. Everyone wants the best for their children, but when custody is in dispute, the children are often caught in the middle. Whether you are in a prolonged battle for the right to spend time with your children or just beginning the process of seeking custody, contact the Centennial child custody lawyers at Plog & Stein, P.C. for an advocate who will be your guide through this stressful and emotionally trying time.
How is Child Custody Determined in Centennial?
Because child custody is such a sensitive and important issue, many different factors come into play to help the court determine what is in the best interest of the child. Every situation is unique, so there is no set formula for judges to decide what will work best for each family. No matter the situation or how contentious relationships between parties have become the most important thing is putting the child’s needs and what is best for them first and foremost. Unless the other parent is an emotional or physical danger to the child, the court’s expectation will be encouraging your child to have a relationship with him or her. Litigation generally arises regarding what the extent of that relationship for each parent will be in terms of the time spent with the child.
In Centennial and throughout Colorado, statute deems child custody to be “parental responsibility.” Parental responsibility entails three main areas: who the child will primarily live with (the residential parent), who has rights to make major decisions for them, and how the parenting time schedule (commonly called visitation) will be allocated between the parents. In many cases, both parties will share the responsibility of making major decisions for the child, but disagreements can sometimes arise, such as school choice or selection of a doctor. The majority of litigation related to custody ties into the visitation schedule and what that will look like. Though equal, 50/50 time is more commonplace, it is not mandated or universal.
In instances where the circumstances affecting the well-being of the child or children become murky for the court, a court-appointed parenting expert may be used to help make recommendations. These are neutral, third-party investigators charged with evaluating the family situation and come in the form of either a Child and Family Investigator (CFI) or a Parental Responsibilities Evaluator. An advantage to having a parenting expert involved in your case is that it gives the children a voice in the proceedings. If your custody case requires the engagement of one of these types of professional, you should speak with your Centennial child custody attorney for recommendations on a competent expert suitable for your case.
In many cases, obtaining original child custody and parenting time orders is only the first phase of a case. As child custody orders run until a child turns 18, its not uncommon for various issues to arise along the way. With more than 70 years of combined legal experience, the Centennial child custody attorneys at Plog & Stein can help you with not only the initial establishment of custody orders, but also with modifications of child custody, emergencies, relocation, enforcement of child custody orders, and more.
Retain a Steadfast and Effective Custody Attorney Serving Your Community
The City of Centennial is the tenth most populated municipality in Colorado and rests within Arapahoe County. With nearly 32,000 households with children and recently ranked one of the best cities to start a family, child custody is a major part of family law cases for our clients in the area. As child custody lawyers serving Centennial, we have worked with many clients to protect the best interests of their children. We are familiar with the courts and judges in Arapahoe County and have extensive experience in all areas of family law, including divorce, child support, alimony, property division, and more. Call us to find out more about how we can assist you at 303-781-0322 or contact us online.
