Child Custody Lawyers in Moorestown, NJ
Family Lawyers Committed to Protecting Clients’ Rights in Child Custody Battles Throughout New Jersey.
Resolving child custody issues is generally one of the most critical, yet difficult, elements of any divorce case. Child custody determinations can quickly become contentious even when both parents have the child’s best interests at heart. As a parent, you are understandably protective of your time with your child and want to do everything possible to protect that time. Under New Jersey law, the child’s best interests are the primary focus in reaching an appropriate child custody arrangement. The Moorestown child custody lawyers at Cordry Hartman, LLC have decades of experience in successfully advocating for their clients’ rights in complex child custody cases. We understand how important child custody matters are, and put the full force of our decades’ worth of family law experience to work in each and every child custody case. We have extensive experience in the following areas as well as in all New Jersey family law matters:
Our attorneys handle child custody cases throughout New Jersey, including in Moorestown, Camden County, Cherry Hill, Evesham Township, Marlton, Mount Laurel, Medford, Voorhees, and Cinnaminson. If you would like to discuss your case, or simply have questions about how the child custody process works, contact our offices today.
New Jersey Law Recognizes the Need for Flexibility in Child Custody Arrangements
In New Jersey, child custody disputes are gender-neutral, meaning that there is no longer a predisposition toward awarding sole custody to the child’s mother. Most courts recognize that it is in the best interests of the child to have meaningful interaction with both parents, and therefore favor some type of joint custody arrangement unless there is a clear need to protect the child from one parent. Two categories of child custody exist, as follows:
- Legal custody: Legal custody grants the parent or parents the right to make important decisions in the child’s life, including education, health, religious affiliations, and other equally important issues.
- Physical or residential custody: As the name suggests, physical custody means that the parent or parents are granted the right to have the child physically present with them.
Judges can choose to award joint or sole custody, both with respect to legal custody and physical custody, based on the best interests of the child. The court can also determine that the child’s best interests require that his or her time with one parent is limited to visitation periods, which are referred to as “parenting time” in the New Jersey court system.
In evaluating the best interests of the child, the courts will consider all of the facts and circumstances of the family dynamic, including:
- The child’s relationship with each parent,
- The health of each parent, both from a physical and a mental standpoint,
- The stability of each parent’s home environment,
- Each parent’s work schedule,
- If the child is old enough, the child’s opinion,
- Whether the parents’ relationship is amicable enough to allow cooperative parenting,
- Whether the child has any special needs that would favor a certain type of custody arrangement.
New Jersey Family Lawyers at Cordry Hartman, LLC Stand Ready to Protect Your Rights in a Child Custody Dispute
At Cordry Hartman, LLC, our dedicated team of family law attorneys understands that every child custody case is unique. We pride ourselves on getting to know you personally so that we can better understand your goals and more effectively advocate to achieve those goals within the court system. Some of the more common child custody arrangements include:
- Joint legal custody: If the parents have joint legal custody, they are responsible for working together to make major decisions about how the child is raised. Since the parents will likely share physical custody, the custodial parent at the time will be responsible for making day-to-day decisions that are in the child’s best interests, often in consultation with the non-custodial parent.
- Shared legal and physical custody: In these cases, the parents share decision making responsibilities, but also share physical custody on a fairly equal basis. In some cases, the child may spend one week with one parent, and the next with the other parent. These arrangements tend to work best when the parents’ relationship is amicable enough to allow cooperative parenting.
- Sole legal and physical custody: In this type of arrangement, one parent has sole decision-making authority, as well as sole residential or physical custody. Sole custody is usually a last resort in cases where one parent is deemed unfit to care for the child.
Regardless of your child custody goals, having a skilled child custody lawyer by your side can help ensure the best possible outcome in your case. Contact us today to schedule a free evaluation of your child custody arrangement.
Questions About Child Custody Arrangements? Contact an Experienced Moorestown Child Custody Lawyer Today
If you are currently fighting for custody of your child, or need the advice and guidance of a skilled child custody lawyer in reaching an amicable agreement with your former spouse, contact the lawyers at Cordry Hartman, LLC today. Our attorneys have decades worth of experience handling all types of child custody cases, whether amicable or fiercely contested, and are here to advocate on your behalf. Contact Cordry Hartman, LLC for a consultation on your child custody situation. Our office is conveniently located at 505 S Lenola Rd Suite 224, Moorestown, NJ 08057. We serve clients throughout New Jersey, including in Moorestown, Cherry Hill, Haddonfield, Marlton, Voorhees, Burlington County, Camden County, Gloucester County, Cumberland County, Cape May County, Salem County, and Atlantic County.
Frequently Asked Questions About Child Custody
If you and your former spouse are able to agree on a new arrangement, a consent order can serve to modify the former arrangement. The consent order will contain the new terms of the custody arrangement and will be enforceable in the same manner as the original arrangement. In more contentious cases, you can file a motion in court to demonstrate that circumstances have changed so that the original order should be modified.
In order to move your unemancipated child out of state, you will have to obtain the consent of your former spouse or court approval. In considering whether to grant approval, courts will consider the relationship between the child and the other parent, whether circumstances have changed since the original custody agreement was entered into, the needs of the child, the stability of the new out-of-state home, and the quality and amount of time that the child has spent with the non-relocating parent. These cases can be difficult, so it is important to have a skilled attorney on your side.
