Jacksonville Child Custody Lawyer

Figuring out how to share your child after a split can be challenging. You want what’s best for your child, but you also want to keep disruptions to their routine to a minimum. How do you keep the balance and protect their best interests when coming to a custody arrangement?

At The Law Offices of John Drew Warlick, P.A., we fight to protect your rights. We advocate for you and want to help you reach a custody arrangement that achieves your goals. To discuss the specifics of your case, set up a free consultation with a North Carolina family law attorney from our law firm.

What Are the Types of Child Custody in North Carolina?

When discussing child custody, the terms legal and physical custody are often used interchangeably. However, these are two distinct types of custody arrangements.
Here is what these terms mean:

• Legal custody of a child refers to a parent’s ability to make major decisions about the health and welfare of the child.
• Physical custody refers to the ability of a parent to have the child in their physical care, either part- or full-time.

What Is Shared Parental Responsibility in North Carolina?

In cases involving children, most North Carolina courts recognize the vital role that both parents can play in raising a happy and healthy child.
Shared parental responsibility, or joint custody, is often the preferred arrangement because it gives both parents access to a child.
In a shared custody arrangement, both parents get relatively equal time with the child.

Parents can have shared legal custody, shared physical custody, or both.
In a shared legal custody arrangement, both parents can make important decisions about the child’s education, medical treatment, and other important matters.
In a shared legal custody agreement, the parents cannot unilaterally make these decisions. They must discuss and agree on a course of action.

In a joint physical custody arrangement, each parent gets a relatively equal amount of physical time with the child.
Generally, this means that the child alternates which home they are living in and is shuttled back and forth between parents.

How Does Child Custody Work in North Carolina?

It is typically advised that parents come to an amicable custody arrangement before their case goes before a judge. Cooperation between parents can make the already challenging process of divorce move a little more smoothly and tends to yield more positive results for the child.

Partners will need to take into consideration what is best for the child as they navigate important decisions about living arrangements, financial support, education, medical needs, and the child’s overall welfare.
A strong child custody agreement should specifically outline how each party will address the child’s needs.
It should also dictate how decisions will be made for the child.
Generic agreements can cause problems down the road and do little to address the child’s overall needs and the parents’ future goals.

Child Custody Laws in North Carolina

North Carolina custody laws differentiate between sole and joint custody as well as legal and physical custody arrangements.
These laws also dictate how child support is calculated and distributed.
North Carolina courts recognize the vital role both parents play in a child’s life. As such, the courts make custody decisions based on what is in the best interests of the child.

If you have questions about how North Carolina’s child custody laws may impact your family, talk to an experienced Jacksonville child custody lawyer about your situation.

Will My Child Custody Case Go to Court?

There is always the potential that if you and your partner cannot come to a custody agreement, your case will end up before a judge in court.
A judge will review all available information and listen to the arguments on both sides.
The judge decides custody based on what they believe is in the best interests of the child.
When determining a custody arrangement, a judge will generally consider the following:

• Each parent’s economic situation
• Each parent’s living situation
• Caretaking abilities
• Parental involvement
• Child’s preference
• Custody arrangement of other siblings
• History of mental, physical, or sexual abuse by a parent
• History of neglect

When parents can come to an acceptable custody agreement, a consent order can be drawn up based on the terms of the agreement.
This order can be presented to a judge during divorce or child custody proceedings. If the judge has no modifications, the order can be ratified by the court and become a part of the final approved court order.

How Do I Go About Reaching a Child Custody Agreement?

Reaching a custody arrangement is not always easy. At the heart of every decision a parent makes, they must always consider what is best for their child.
Yet, it can be difficult to separate negative feelings about a former partner from the decision at hand.
Settling on a child custody arrangement takes communication from both parents. Each side needs to clearly state their concerns. The parties must work through any challenges that arise.

An attorney can be a valuable asset when attempting to reach a child custody agreement.
A Jacksonville child custody lawyer can help you communicate with your spouse and work through the difficulties of agreeing on an arrangement that works for both parents.
Mediation may also be a powerful tool that helps families address their concerns and communicate with each other.
Sometimes, mediation aids couples in coming to an understanding about the best interests of the child in ways other methods cannot.

Visit our Child Custody Lawyers Offices in Jacksonville, NC

How Our Child Custody Attorneys Can Help You

At The Law Offices of John Drew Warlick, P.A., our team of dedicated family law attorneys can help you make a difficult transition go more smoothly. We listen to your concerns and will do everything in our power to help you achieve a positive outcome for your unique situation. Our legal team can help you by:

• Reviewing your unique custody situation
• Addressing potential conflicts before they become issues
• Fostering communication between involved parties
• Keeping the best interests of the child in mind
• Helping make sure there is minimal disruption in the child’s life and routine
• If necessary, present evidence in court supporting your position

Contact an Experienced Child Custody Lawyer in North Carolina

At The Law Offices of John Drew Warlick, P.A., we want to help guide you through the process of creating a custody agreement that works for your family’s needs. Let our family law attorneys advocate for you and your child. Set up a free consultation today by contacting our office.