Attorney Publication At the end of a marriage Learn how to protect your | Page 11

Child Custody Lawyers
• Why Hire a Child Custody Lawyer?
• Whether married or unmarried, when two parents are separated and need to draw up a
custody agreement, they will usually start the process off with the best of intentions.
Barring an abusive, unstable or unsafe environment, it is unlikely that one parent will
attempt to deprive the other of spending time with his or her child. Regardless, custody
arrangements can get complicated. Who gets custody during holidays and vacations?
This is just one of many questions with no easy answer. Additionally, even when both
parties have the best of intentions, separation and custody arrangements are very
emotional matters, and an unbiased and educated third party can keep the process on
track. This bolsters the case for involving legal counsel to prepare an agreement, putting
emotions aside and focusing on the child.
• How Custody Lawyers Can Help
• In some cases, one attorney can be retained to draw up a child custody agreement that
both parties can agree on. In other situations, particularly those that are hostile or
contentious, it may be necessary for both parties to retain counsel. While it can be
expensive to retain counsel to establish child custody agreements, more often than not, it
results in the most optimal results for the child involved. Attorneys are able to
pragmatically assess the situation so that the child is raised in the best environment
possible. Legally binding agreements serve not only to protect the children involved but
also the parents, to avoid future disputes and to establish a clear, regimented custody
schedule to avoid future conflict and instability.