Child Custody Lawyer in Alexandria

Child custody arrangements in Virginia address both decision-making authority and physical custody. These terms are always based on the children’s best interests, and every case is determined in accordance with the unique circumstances involved. If you are facing a divorce involving children or a child custody case outside of divorce, it is time to consult with our experienced Alexandria child custody lawyers at Bristle Schulze.

The Best Interests of Your Children

Virginia courts always base child custody decisions on what is best for the involved children. The factors taken into consideration include the following:

• The children’s ages and their physical, educational, and emotional needs, including any special needs any of them have
• Each parent’s overall physical and mental health
• Each parent’s ability and commitment to adequately addressing the children’s needs
• The depth of the bond that each parent has forged with their children
• Each parent’s level of involvement with raising the children so far
• Each parent’s commitment to co-parenting effectively and to supporting the other parent’s close and loving relationship with the children
• The preferences of those children who are considered mature enough to become involved
• How well the children’s current living situation, including home, school, and community, serves them

Legal Custody

Legal custody determines how parents resolve primary parenting matters like the following:

• Decisions about their schooling or daycare
• Decisions about the medical care they receive
• Decisions about the extracurriculars they participate in
• Decisions about their religious upbringing

Parents can make these decisions together or can divide them between themselves according to topic. When they are made by consensus, one parent may have tiebreaking authority in the event that earnest negotiations between the parents fail. When circumstances call for it, one parent can be awarded sole legal custody.

Physical Custody

The prevailing wisdom regarding children’s best interests specifies that spending time with both parents is preferred. This means that you and your children’s other parent can both expect to receive parenting time.

This does not, however, mean that your child custody orders will split your time with the children equally. Circumstances, including the status quo, may dictate that one of you becomes the primary custodial parent.

Only if there is a serious reason for seriously limiting a parent’s interaction with their children will their child custody rights be seriously limited or void altogether. In some situations, supervision is required.

Our Experienced Alexandria Child Custody Attorneys Can Help

Our knowledgeable Alexandria child custody lawyers at Bristle Schulze care about you and your case and will unleash the full scope of our impressive experience in pursuit of terms that work well for you and your children. We are on your side and here to help, so please do not wait to reach out for more information about what we can do for you by contacting us online or giving our firm a call at 703-454-0701 today.