Child Custody

Child custody cases are probably the most hostile and emotionally litigated cases in all of family law. Controversies over custody are oftentimes drawn out and bitter. Each parent accusing each other of various improprieties with the goal of sabotaging their child’s relationship with the other parent. Custody involves all kinds of hearings and temporary orders with tons of paperwork and some meditation mixed in. This is all before written discovery and depositions take are completed so both parties are ready for trial to get a more long-term order. With child custody almost nothing is permanent so it is all too common for a parent to seek a modification and the litigation goes on, and on. 

It doesn’t have to be as described above though. There are simpler, quicker, cheaper, and less stressful ways for separating couples to get a custody order. With their children’s best interest in mind, couples just need to consider reality and then what is actually doable for them. The key is being realistic about work and school schedules, finances, transportation, and day-care just to name a few. 

For one client it meant his ex-wife having their children during the week while he worked, and him having their children on the weekends so she could work. It was a good division of labor. It took just a little back-and-forth between the attorneys and some compromise on part of the couple to have a custom-made custody agreement by stipulation – no need to see a judge.

Of course there are couples who are just too bitter over the circumstances that got them to the point of separation that they are unable to think logically and forge any kind of agreement.  There are also couples where one is a terrible parent and should not have custody of any kind. These are cases where litigation is necessary.

Custody cases have common themes but every case has its own unique circumstances so if you have children and are considering separating with the other parent give Lindley Law a call to talk about the specifics of your case.