New York Child Custody Attorneys
Child Custody Help at the Hudson Valley Family Law Center
The Hudson Valley Family Law Center in Chester, New York, welcomes couples with children as they seek experienced legal help with family law matters. The attorneys who work at the Center focus exclusively on family law, helping clients with everything from obtaining child support to establishing paternity. Our goal in all legal matters involving children is to ensure that your child's best interests are protected and your relationship with your child is preserved.
Contact the Family Law Center of Greenwald Law Offices. Child custody attorneys from our firm are here to help. Call us toll free at 1-866-GREENWALD for a step-by-step analysis.
Child Custody
Under New York family law, both parents have equal parental rights when it comes to child custody, visitation and child support. Men often think that the courts favor mothers, but this is not the case. The court looks at a large number of factors when arriving at its decision and if the father can demonstrate that he is the superior parent in these areas, then he can obtain full custody of any children of the marriage.
This also applies to same-sex couples who now have the right to marry and divorce under New York law. As gay and homosexual rights expand under matrimonial and partnership law, so do the rights concerning child custody and how same-sex couples can negotiate an arrangement that meets their needs that is also in the best interest of the minor children involved.
When you meet with a child custody lawyer at our firm, we will review the child custody criteria with you and help you determine your areas of strength and weakness. A child custody evaluator often can be helpful.
Remember, you do not have to leave child custody up to a family law judge to decide. You and the other parent can arrive at a child custody agreement on your own, with the help of your attorney or a child custody mediator. Most parents often find that the parenting time plans they arrive at on their own are more satisfactory than what a judge can order.
Child Support
Child support is the right of every child. It cannot be waived by the parents. New York, like every other state in the U.S., has child support guidelines that outline the amount of support a parent will pay or receive. These guidelines consider income as well as expenses and family situations. While it is possible that a judge's child support order can vary from the New York child support guideline, it will only be done in cases where there is a proven need or reason for the child to receive more support or a proven need for a parent to pay a reduced amount.
Many people are not aware that if they have been ordered to pay child support, they must also carry a life insurance policy that names the child as a beneficiary. This ensures child support will be paid should the parent die before the child reaches adulthood.
Contempt of Court Orders
Most contempt issues arise from violation of existing child custody and child support orders. A parent repeatedly does not pick the children up or bring them back at the scheduled time, or fails to visit. A custodial parent refuses to make the child available for the court-approved visitation or schedules activities over vacation time to be spent with the noncustodial parent. A parent moves too far away without getting permission, making visitation very difficult. A parent fails to pay the court-ordered child support.
Violating an order or failing to comply with the court order can result in civil court action and even criminal charges. Failing to pay child support can result in the loss of your driver's license, wage garnishment, a lien on your home or even jail time. Problems with children could result in criminal charges of kidnapping or endangering the welfare of a child. This could lead to Child Protective Services involvement.
Our firm assists parents in resolving child custody and child support problems to avoid the serious consequences of violating a court order.
Contact a New York Visitation Rights Lawyers
To learn how we can help your situation, please contact our law firm online or call us toll free at 1-866-GREENWALD to speak to a lawyer at any of our office locations in Chester, New York (in Orange County); Wurtsboro, New York (in Sullivan County); Poughkeepsie, New York (in Dutchess County); or New York, New York.