Child custody cases fall under the practice and precedent of family law. A potential custody case, due to its sensitive and diabolical nature, needs to be brought to the attention of an attorney. Lawyers who are familiar with family law and have experience litigating child custody cases will meet with potential plaintiffs or defendants. A parent or trusted guardian will need to schedule an initial appointment with a child custody attorney in Georgetown TX if another party wants to fight for care of a minor.
Divorce or impending divorce is an incident that commonly leads to conflicts over which parent should have custody. A child custody attorney in Georgetown TX, such as Harris and Schroeder, PLLC, will sort through the facts and circumstances. If there is evidence that one parent is unfit, the attorney will present this in court and build the case around the child’s safety and need for optimal living conditions. In these types of cases, a judge will grant one parent or guardian full custody. Depending upon the severity of the evidence and circumstances, the judge may award the other parent visitation rights.
A typical outcome of child custody cases is joint custody. Under a joint custody agreement, both parents have joint parental rights. Both parents have to reach a mutual decision when acting on behalf of their child. One parent can’t decide where to send the child to school or how to treat the child’s medical emergencies without the consent of the other parent. As a child custody attorney in Georgetown TX can explain, in a joint custody agreement the judge may determine a primary and a secondary parent. Certain rights are the responsibility of the primary parent. One of those rights is determining the child’s main residence. The second is the right to receive child support payments and use those payments for the child’s benefit.
Regardless of whether a parent has full or joint custody, he or she still maintains specific parental rights. Most of these parental rights involve access to information about the child, such as education and medical records. A parent can ask a judge to limit or eliminate a dangerous or abusive parent’s parental rights. This is why it’s best to consult with a child custody attorney to determine the most effective way to address the child’s custody needs.
