What does “best interests of the child” mean? How can parents work together to assure that their children emerge from this change with as little anxiety as possible? In most families, both parents want what is in the best interest of their child, but a definition of those best interests may differ from one parent to the other. At the Law Offices of Victoria S. Linder, we help our clients focus on the children and determine what custody arrangement is best.
Children — and what is best for them — needs to be at the center of any discussion about child custody. We work with clients to make sure that happens. Some of the issues to consider include:
School and friends: Where is the school? It is usually best when children can live near school and near the friends they make at school.
Care needs: Are both parents working? Is the child in day care? Is the child mature enough to have a latchkey?
Living environments: What living environment is available for the children? Every child should have a safe and healthy home environment with consistent expectations.
A fifty-fifty split: Splitting custody by fifty-fifty does not have to mean one week with one parent and one week with the other. A fifty-fifty time split can be crafted in many ways.
Fitness as parents: Are both parents fit? In some cases, substance abuse, domestic violence or other issues could be important to investigate, to ensure the safety and well-being of children.
Determining what is best for your children is one of the biggest decisions you need to make when children are involved in a divorce. A child custody lawyer can help you work through the issues and discuss them with the other parent. Child custody agreements and visitation agreements can give parents and children a sense of security.