Family Law Lawyers Duluth

Family Law Lawyers Duluth

Concerns related to family law are often quite varied, but because they directly affect your family, they are all important. If you are facing a family law matter, it’s time to consult with an experienced family law lawyer in Duluth. 

Family Law and Child Custody

Family law is a broad area of the law that addresses wide-ranging topics that include:

• Divorce terms, such as child custody arrangements, the division of marital property, alimony, and child support
• Modifications of divorce terms
• Parental relocations
• Prenups and postnups
• Paternity
• Visitation rights of grandparents

Some of the most common family law cases center around child custody matters.

Breaking Down Child Custody Basics

Child custody relates to how your children will divide their time between you and their other parent post-divorce (physical custody) and to who will be making important decisions on behalf of your children as you move forward. Consider the following breakdown of child custody terms:

• Parenting Time – Parenting time has replaced the term visitation, and it refers to your schedule with your children.
• Legal Custody – Legal Custody can be either sole or joint, and it refers to who will be making decisions about your children’s education, religious upbringing, health care, extracurriculars, and the like.
• Physical Custody – Physical custody refers to how you and your ex will implement your parenting time schedules (the schedule that determines when your children are with you). Physical custody encompasses the routine daily care and parenting of your kids and providing your children with a home.
• Joint and Sole Custody – Again, both physical and legal custody can be either sole or joint. Sole means that one parent takes on the responsibility, and joint means that you and your ex will share the responsibilities involved.
• Temporary Custody – Temporary custody refers to the custody schedule that’s implemented while your divorce is pending.
• Final Custody Orders – Your final custody orders are the ones the court hands down when your divorce is finalized, and they represent your permanent orders (unless one of you seeks and obtains a modification).

Agreeing to Child Custody Arrangements

Because your child custody arrangements directly affect your children, they are very personal, and many couples prefer to maintain decision-making power in this arena. Toward this end, you have a variety of options that include negotiating terms between yourselves – with the professional legal guidance of your respective child custody attorneys. 

There are also, however, other options, including mediation – a form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR). At mediation, a professional mediator, who is a neutral third-party in your case, will guide you through the mediation process while you, your divorcing spouse, and your respective child custody attorneys explore your best options. If you and your soon-to-be-ex are ultimately unable to find common ground, you’ll need to turn to the court to make your determinations for you. 

An Experienced Family Law Lawyer in Duluth Can Help

The trusted family law lawyers at Atticus Family Law in Duluth have the experience, drive, and resources to help you resolve your family law concern. To learn more, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.