Hatfield Child Custody Lawyers
Seasoned Family Lawyers in Hatfield Represent Clients in Child Custody Matters
Child custody matters can be some of the most emotionally charged aspects of divorce proceedings and, depending upon the age of the child and relationship between the parents, can continue to present complications for years into the future. For both the sake of the child and the parents, it is important to reach an agreement on custody issues as soon as possible and do whatever possible to prevent disruption to the child’s life going forward. While the Pennsylvania courts can make child custody determinations for you, an experienced child custody lawyer will fight to protect the interests of both you and your child throughout the custody determination process.
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At Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford P.C., our skilled child custody attorneys in Hatfield can help you understand your options and rights. We will work with the opposing party whenever possible to reach an agreement in your Hatfield custody case potentially avoiding the court’s intervention. We take the time to get to know our clients so that we have all relevant information when negotiating child custody arrangements and can make the strongest possible argument for your preferred child custody arrangement.
Child Custody Laws in Pennsylvania
Child custody under Pennsylvania law involves determining the parents’ rights to physical and legal custody of the child. Physical custody is, of course, the right of a parent to be in physical possession of the child, while legal custody refers to the parent’s ability to make decisions regarding the child’s life. While the courts in Hatfield will always make custody determinations based upon what is in the child’s best interests, the following are some examples of physical custody arrangements:
Get Advice From An Experienced Hatfield, PA Child Custody Attorney. All You Have To Do Is Call 215-822-7575 To Receive Your Free Case Evaluation.
- Sole custody. Sole custody is when one parent has the complete right to physical custody of the child at all times, and the other parent has no custody rights.
- Primary custody. When one parent is the primary caregiver and has the right to be with the child for the majority of the time, that parent is the primary custodial parent.
- Joint custody. Joint custody is a type of shared custody arrangement where both parents have substantial rights to physical custody of the child. Joint custody arrangements can take many forms, and do not require a 50-50 split of parenting time. Family courts and parents have significant leeway to reach an arrangement that is in the child’s best interests.
- Partial physical custody. Partial physical custody allows a non-custodial parent to spend time with the child on specified occasions (for example, every other weekend).
Visitation rights. Visitation is when one parent is granted the right to spend time with the child but is not permitted to take the child physically away from the custodial parent. Visitation can be either supervised or unsupervised, depending upon the circumstances.
Dedicated Child Custody Lawyers in Hatfield Help Clients Through All Complications That May Arise in Child Custody Cases
Child custody determinations are made based upon what is in the best interests of the child, but this determination is not always straightforward when the ideal circumstances are not possible. Determining a child’s “best interests” requires examination of a number of different factors, including:
- The parents’ current custodial arrangement and whether one parent already provides primary care for the children,
- The parents’ willingness to share custody,
- Whether one parent is more likely to encourage the child’s relationship with the other parent,
- Stability of each parents’ household and community,
- Location of any siblings or family,
- Any history of abuse or criminal activity,
- The child’s own preference, depending upon the child’s age.
At Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford P.C., our Hatfield custody lawyers are committed to making sure our clients understand what to anticipate in any child custody case. We also go the extra mile and take the time to get to know our clients so that we can anticipate potential future complications that may lay ahead, and take steps to plan for the future if possible in your case.
Schedule a Confidential Consultation to Discuss Your Case with An Experienced Child Custody Attorney in Hatfield Today
Protecting your child is the most important role you can play, and our custody lawyers in Hatfield are committed to formulating a strategic plan to protect your child’s interests based on the specific facts of your custody case. If you are facing an uphill battle in reaching an agreement over a child custody matter or simply want the advice of an experienced Hatfield custody lawyer, call our offices today at 215-822-7575 to set up a confidential consultation. You can also send us a secure and confidential email through our online contact form, and we will respond promptly.
Custody
Parent Awarded Right to Relocate to Another State
Grandparent Custody
Grandparent Awarded Custody of Grandchild
About Hatfield, PA
Hatfield is a part of the North Penn Valley region of Pennsylvania, not far from Philadelphia’s city center. Hatfield is technically a borough and is known for its small-town community lifestyle and a mix of residential, commercial and even industrial properties. The technical incorporation of the borough of Hatfield occurred in 1898 when a group of town residents decided to formally organize the area in a town meeting.
Frequently Asked Questions About Child Custody Cases
When each parent is to spend significant time with the child, there is significant flexibility in arranging the shared custody. The child will essentially live with both parents in these cases—some parents prefer that the child spend one week with them, and the next with the other parent, while in other cases, the child will spend 3 or 4 days a week with one parent and the remainder of the time with the other. The parents will share the right to both physical custody and legal custody (decision-making authority). This, as well as the interaction that will naturally be required in sharing physical custody, makes it important that the parents’ relationship is amicable enough for the arrangement to succeed.
Remember that reaching an agreement over child custody matters is not necessarily a one-time event—lives and circumstances change, and custody arrangements may also have to change. Formal child custody orders can be key to enforcing a child custody arrangement if necessary down the line. If your custody arrangement is informal and not blessed by the courts, your recourse will be limited if the child’s other parent eventually deviates from the plan in ways that you find unacceptable.
