Stillwater Child Custody Lawyers

Stillwater Child Custody Lawyers

If you are facing a divorce that involves shared children, child custody is a primary issue. The same is true of child custody matters outside of marriage and divorce and when child custody modifications are needed. When your children are involved, it’s a critical matter, and an experienced Stillwater child custody lawyer is standing by to help you tackle your concerns head-on. 

Legal Custody

In the State of Minnesota, child custody is addressed in terms of legal custody and parenting time – both of which represent an important element of your parental rights. As parents, we are called upon to make important decisions on behalf of our children, and legal custody determines how this decision-making authority is distributed between both parents. The kind of questions that come into play include those related to the following:

• Your children’s medical care
• Your children’s schooling
• Your children’s religious upbringing 
• Your children’s participation in extracurriculars and travel

The options as they relate to legal custody include:

• Both parents continue to make decisions between themselves.
• Both parents continue to make decisions between themselves, while one parent has the authority to break a tie if their good-faith efforts at negotiation become deadlocked.
• Both parents divide this decision-making authority between themselves according to the category of decision that needs to be made
• One parent has sole legal custody and makes primary parenting decisions on their own 

Parenting Time

The other primary element of custody in Minnesota is parenting time, which sets the schedule for when your children are with you and when they are with your ex. While the court generally hands down standard parenting time schedules when it is called upon to intervene, you and your children’s other parent have the discretion to create whatever schedule works for you – if you are able to reach a mutually acceptable decision. When it comes to parenting time, there are a wide range of scheduling options, but they can all be classified in one of the following ways:

• One parent becomes the primary custodial parent.
• Both parents divide their time with the kids somewhat equally.

The Factors Considered by the Court

If you need the court’s intervention regarding parenting time, you can expect it to take factors that are intended to represent your children’s best interests into careful consideration, including:

• You and your ex’s individual preferences
• Your children’s preferences (as long as the child is considered old enough and mature enough to voice a preference)
• Each parent’s ability and desire to provide the children with the care and attention they need
• Each parent’s historical level of involvement with the children
• Each parent’s commitment to fostering the other parent’s ongoing relationship with the children
• The pros and cons of maximizing the amount of time each parent has with the children

Turn to an Experienced Stillwater Child Custody Attorney for the Legal Guidance You Need

The focused child custody attorneys at Atticus Family Law – proudly serving Stillwater – have reserves of impressive experience helping clients like you obtain favorable child custody arrangements. For more information, don’t wait to contact us today.