In Divorce, Child Custody Issues Are the Most Important
After nearly 30 years of representing people in divorce cases, I have learned that there is nothing more emotional than child custody issues. In nearly every case, parents want to do the right thing by their children, but it is very difficult to separate the children's issues from their own. It may help to know that the courts work overtime to ensure that parents' egos never get in the way of what truly is in the child's best interest.
If your pending divorce case will involve child custody matters, or if your current visitation or custody arrangement is no longer working, contact the Law Offices of John Hoffman, in Sharon. I have experience handling complex child custody cases involving:
- Joint and sole custody arrangements
- In-state and out-of-state child relocation
- Issues involving proof of paternity
- Fathers' rights
- Child support enforcement and contempt cases
- Parenting time modifications
Parenting Plans
There is an old saying among family law attorneys: You can't have quality parenting time if you don't get enough parenting time. As an experienced attorney, I work hard to help the parties reach a parenting plan that is fair to the noncustodial parent. I have extensive knowledge of Massachusetts' expectations and what the judges will accept as a reasonable parenting schedule. If your expectations of custody arrangements and parenting time won't be reasonable, I will tell you honestly.
What If You Want More Than the Judge Will Give?
I have served as a court-appointed Guardian ad Litem to protect the legal rights of a child when the courts are trying to determine how the parents' time with the child or children will be shared. Fathers in particular often complain that they do not receive adequate parenting time with their children when the mother is granted primary physical custody. The courts have set a clear precedent that the parent who has been responsible for handling most of the day-to-day tasks of care and nurturing typically receives a slightly greater percentage of time with the children in the case of divorce.
As an experienced divorce lawyer, I often have to explain to my clients that the courts really are looking out for the best interest of their children, even if it may not seem like it at the time. It may be particularly difficult to accept when child support obligations accompany the news that you will not be awarded the amount of parenting time you expected.
Contact me to arrange a consultation today. From my offices in Sharon, I represent clients in throughout Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth counties.
