An Experienced Child Custody Lawyer in Cherry Hill, NJ

If you and your ex-spouse can't agree on child custody, the court will decide for you. New Jersey courts are most concerned with the child's best interests when deciding who will get custody and how much visitation time each parent will have. Working with the experienced child custody lawyers at Graziano & Flynn is a critical step toward protecting your parental rights.

With joint legal custody, parents share parenting responsibilities while the child lives with one parent. In the case of shared physical custody, the child spends equal time at each parent's home. The court may create a temporary custody arrangement before making a permanent decision. In some cases, the court may award sole physical custody, which gives one parent all physical and legal custody. Split custody happens when there are two or more children, and each parent takes sole custody of at least one child.

If parents cannot agree on child custody, the court will evaluate the situation and render a decision. A judge reviews the parents' plans for visitation and custody, any evidence, relevant testimony, and the parents' stories. The court usually requests parenting time mediation and a custody neutral assessment (CNA) conducted by a court-appointed psychologist or social worker. If these efforts don't produce an agreement, a custody hearing may be needed.

A history of child abuse, threats, substance abuse, neglect, chronic mental illness, regular incarceration, and inappropriate sexual behavior in the child's presence can negatively affect a parent's chances for custody. Contact us for an appointment if you have concerns about these issues.

Parents must obtain the permission of the court to move out of state. The court will look at the reason for the move, how it affects parenting time, and how visitation will happen going forward. Any parental move may cause changes in parenting time or child support. Working with an experienced New Jersey child custody lawyer is the best way to preserve your rights and ensure your child's best interests are protected.

In New Jersey, divorcing LGBTQ couples are entitled to the same child custody rights as any other couple. In many cases, LGBTQ couples are dealing with complex custody issues, like adopted children, children who are biologically related to only one parent, and children conceived with surrogates, sperm donation, or an egg donor. At Graziano & Flynn, our years of experience will help guide you through any child custody case.