Parker Modification of Parenting Time
Attorneys Helping Parker Residents With Modifications of Parenting Time
Long after child custody has been arranged, family dynamics shift, children get older and school schedules change, new jobs may take parents to other states, or prior visitation schedules may just become impractical. Regardless of the reasons, parents can find themselves in situations in which either one of them may believe a change in parenting time is needed to suit a child’s best interests. Whether you’re seeking to modify parenting time, or defending against a modification motion, the family law attorneys at Plog & Stein, P.C. have seen virtually any imaginable type of parenting time scenario play out. With over 70 years of combined legal experience, our lawyers are well equipped to handle either long term changes to your visitation schedule or short term emergency modifications. Let us put our insights, skills, and family law knowledge to work for you!
Pursuing Modification of Parenting Time in Parker
Before children reach 18 years of age, they are subject to the court’s jurisdiction related to both decision-making and the visitation schedule either worked out between their parents or decided by a judicial officer. Visitation, known as “parenting time,” is going to be an influence on how a child’s time is structured for the duration of their childhood years. As such, parents and courts generally want to build the initial parenting plan to set everyone up for success. However, it is common that circumstances evolve and parenting time modifications become necessary. Parker families find that there are many reasons to seek changes to visitation including: a parent’s changing relationship to a child as they reach their turbulent teenage years, relocation to a home a significant distance away from the child’s other parent, and simple everyday logistics.
You may be in a situation where you are worried about the time your child is spending with their other parent. If you are concerned that substance abuse, mental health issues, or an unstable environment may be affecting the other party, don’t wait to speak with a parenting time lawyer. A skilled family lawyer will know if your situation requires short term intervention in the form of a court order or even bringing in a custody and visitation expert, such as a Child and Family Investigator or Parental Responsibilities Evaluator. Outside experts can weigh in on your case and their opinions are often heavily relied upon by the courts.
Modifications of parenting time are regulated by C.R.S. 14-10-129, which sets forth standards for modifying parenting time. It should be noted that these standards differ depending on the circumstances at hand. For a general modification of parenting time, the “best interest” standard applies. However, when one parent is seeking to change parenting time in a manner that also changes primary residence, absent an agreement, they are going to need to prove either physical danger or significant emotional impairment caused by the current schedule. Most Douglas County family law attorneys refer to this as the “endangerment” standard. Relocations which significantly impact parenting time based on geographical issues are also covered under Section 129 and come with their own subset of factors the court must look at. When emergencies arise necessitating a motion to restrict parenting time, the standard becomes “imminent danger,” with the court looking at immediate safety concerns. Understanding these standards at the outset of your case matters.
As with any child custody case, parents don’t always agree, thereby leading to the filing of a motion. Having an experienced attorneys on your side can make all the difference when it comes time to either settling or litigating your parenting time modification concerns. At Plog & Stein, our experienced attorneys will be there to advise, support, and fight for our clients, every step of the way, including those dealing with modification of parenting time in Parker. If you and the other parent can’t come to an agreement about a major aspect of your child’s life, the courts may ultimately need to step into the situation and make a ruling.
Speak with an Experienced Parker Parenting Time Lawyers
Seeking modifications to your parenting time orders or custody can be tricky waters to navigate without the legal help of an experienced lawyers who knows the Parker community and all the legal standards your case entails. The family lawyers at Plog & Stein, P.C. are ready to guide you step-by-step through this process. Call us at 303-781-0322 or contact us online. Our attorneys also represent family law clients throughout Douglas, Arapahoe, Denver, Jefferson, and all Metro area counties, including with issues related to divorce, legal separation, child support, alimony, and child support modification.
