Fall River Child Custody Lawyer

Fall River Child Custody Attorney

Divorce can be an emotionally challenging process, especially when there are children involved. The law stipulates that the children’s well-being must come first during this time. The goal of Massachusetts child custody law is to make the change as easy as possible for children so that they maintain their standard of living. It is very important to have a Fall River child custody lawyer to defend you and your child’s interest in court.

Why Choose Farias Family Law, P.C.?

Picking the right lawyer to handle your child custody case can make all the difference in how the case goes. At Farias Family Law, P.C., we know parental rights cases are very personal and can be very upsetting. Attorney Bill Farias has years of experience, a deep understanding of Massachusetts family law, and a strong desire to fight for your rights.

We take a personalized approach, pay attention to your specific goals, and make a plan to satisfy them. You can be sure that Farias Family Law, P.C. will fight hard for your relationship with your children.

Common Problems with Child Custody in Massachusetts

When a couple with children gets divorced in Fall River, MA, there are important problems to resolve when it comes to parenting and child custody. These can include:

• Where are the children going to live?
• Where will the children live?
• Who is going to make important choices about the children’s well-being?
• How will the money for the children’s care be handled?
• What time will visitation happen?

The court prefers for parents to work together to solve these problems so the children’s lives aren’t too disrupted. However, because of the anger and emotional tension that often comes with divorce, it can be hard for parents to come to an understanding. Should parents be unable to agree on how to raise their children, the court can step in and decide what is best for the children.

How to Obtain Child Custody

For children in Fall River and throughout Massachusetts, there are two kinds of custody. You could either be awarded legal custody or, physical custody, or a combination of the two. When you are going through a custody case, you need to know the difference between these two kinds of custody.

Legal custody means a parent has power to make important choices about how to raise the children, like their schooling, medical care, and religious practices. The court usually gives both parents joint legal custody. This means they can both be involved in making important choices about the child unless there is a serious problem, like abuse or neglect, that makes the court think otherwise.

The person who has physical custody of the children decides where they will live and who will care for them the most. It is more common for one parent to have sole physical custody than split physical custody. This is because courts tend to believe children do better when they have one stable home.

Visitation Rights

The parent who doesn’t have custody will usually have visitation rights, which are often worked out peacefully between parents. If there are worries about the children’s safety or well-being during visits, the court may order the visits to be monitored.

How to Decide Who Gets Custody

The “best interest of the child” is the main concern the court considers when deciding who gets custody. The goal is to make sure the result is good for the child’s overall health and stability. Some of the things that affect custody decisions are:

• The disruption to the child’s life.
• What the child needs in terms of emotional, physical, and mental growth.
• How well the child gets along with each parent.
• How connected the child is to their neighborhood, family, and school.
• Any sign of abuse, loss, or drug use in the past.
• Which parent has been the main provider in the past?

Changes to Massachusetts Child Custody

The rules for child custody are not set in stone. Massachusetts guidelines say that custody decisions can be changed if there is a “material and substantial change of circumstances.” For instance, if one parent’s finances change significantly or if there are concerns about the child’s safety, the court may go back and change the custody plan. The most important thing is to demonstrate the change is for the child’s “best interest.”

FAQs

Contact Farias Family Law, P.C.

If you are in need of assistance in the child custody process, Farias Family Law, P.C. can help. Contact us today for more information.