Citronelle Child Custody Lawyer

The team at Coumanis & York understand that child custody may be the most important part of your divorce for you. Change is inevitable when a marriage ends, and many parents worry about losing significant time with their children or decision-making rights. These worries are normal, but you don’t have to face them alone. Our team of child custody lawyers in Citronelle, AL can help you with these and other family law issues.

Ready to learn more about your child custody options and make a plan for what comes next? Let’s talk. Call Coumanis & York at 251-990-3083 to set up a consultation and find out how we can help you.

Establishing Custody

Depending on your situation, you may have to first establish paternity before you can start thinking about custody. In the state of Alabama, a married man is presumed to be the father of any child born to his wife during their marriage. Paternity is automatically established, and you do not have to take extra steps to pursue custody during or after a divorce.

It’s a different situation if the parents are not married. In this case, you must get paternity established. This typically involves taking a paternity test and getting added to the birth certificate. However, the father can also just sign the birth certificate and accept paternity without going through a test. This process gives the father the rights and responsibilities that come with parenthood.

Different Custody Arrangements in Alabama

Every state has slightly different terms for child custody agreements, and it’s important to understand what options may be available to you as you fight for your parenting time.

First, you should know the difference between physical and legal custody. When people hear the term “custody” they are typically thinking of physical custody. This refers to the party with whom the child lives most of the time. Legal custody refers to which parties have a say in decisions regarding a child’s medical treatment, religion, and education.

For both physical and legal custody, the court may award sole or joint custody. Joint custody is the preferred outcome for most custody cases, as it allows both parents to make decisions on behalf of their child and gives them both meaningful parenting time. Alabama courts typically start by assuming that joint custody is an option and consider other options if relevant evidence is presented.

Sole custody is not nearly as common as it used to be. In light of new research indicating that a child should have meaningful time with both parents, most courts would rather see an agreement where both parents split both time and parenting responsibilities. There are situations in which sole custody is preferable.

If one parent does not want their parenting time or decision-making authority, they may choose to give sole legal or physical custody to the other parent. If one party’s work schedule is always changing or unsuitable for childrearing, the other caretaker may have sole custody. Sole custody is also awarded when abuse or substance use is a concern.

Factors Used in Child Custody Cases

In many divorce cases, the parents come to a mutually agreeable custody arrangement. In others, neither party will compromise and the decision goes to the judge. Remember, though, the judge has the final say in all situations. Even if you and your co-parent agree on a schedule, the judge can deny it if they do not believe it’s in the child’s best interest. This outcome is rare, though.

If the court must decide how to award custody, a variety of factors are used. Relevant factors include:

• The child’s emotional, physical, mental, material, and educational needs and each parent’s ability to meet them
• The age and sex of the child in question
• The home environment provided by each parent
• Each parent’s willingness to maintain the child’s relationship with the other parent
• The relationship the child has with their siblings in each household
• The lifestyle and schedule the child is already used to
• Recommendations from experts, including teachers, child psychologists, and medical professionals
• The strength of the relationship between each parent and their child
• The child’s preference, depending on their age

Adjustments to Your Custody Agreement

Even after your custody arrangement is made permanent, modifications are always an option. Custody modifications are useful in many different situations, including:

• A change in one or both parents’ work schedules and obligations
• A change in one parent’s interest in parenting time
• One parent moving away from the child’s hometown or state
• The child’s preferences changing as they grow older
• New schedules due to extracurricular activities or other obligations
• Substance use, abuse, or another situation that makes one parent unfit to care for the child

If you or the other parent wants a custody modification, it’s important to discuss it with an attorney. The court often does not want to change a working custody agreement unless there is substantial evidence to back it up. An attorney can argue your case and fight for what is best for your child and you.

Whether you are trying to establish an initial custody agreement or get an existing order modified, be prepared with a Citronelle, AL child custody attorney. Our team can take a look at what you want in a custody order, your supporting evidence, and any disputes you have with the other parent. From there, we’ll work on a case that supports your right to parent and make important parenting decisions. With the right support and guidance, you’ll get through this time with as little stress as possible.

Choose Coumanis & York for Your Citronelle Child Custody Case

The path to a custody agreement that meets your and your child’s needs starts with help from the team at Coumanis & York. Our extensive experience in family law makes us the natural choice for your custody disputes. Whether you’re establishing custody as an unmarried parent or a parent going through a divorce, let us be your advocate. Schedule a meeting with our team now by calling us at 251-990-3083 or reaching out to us online.