There are some family law cases that can affect the legal rights of a child. Most parents are anxious to know if they will live with their child or have a role in raising their child. Although cost is a factor in such cases, enlisting the help of a child custody lawyer will help protect the rights of all parties involved. Here are cases where legal help is recommended to reach a mutual consensus.

1. Divorce cases

In divorce cases, parents wonder how visitation and support issues will be resolved. Some important points that come up include financial support, property division, and visitation. These factors determine the correct approach to solving legal problems. In this situation, a lawyer helps the divorcing couple reach an agreement that benefits their children. The couple can opt for informal settlement negotiation or mediation with the help of a lawyer. If this doesn’t work, they may want to take the case to a court of law where a judge can review the case.

2. Cases of single parents

There are also cases where the parents are not married. In most states, legal rights are generally vested in the mother. However, the father can also take legal action to obtain some form of visitation and guardianship rights. The legal approach to divorce cases still applies to single parent cases. Parents may decide to speak with a child custody attorney and come to an agreement. If the mother is reluctant, then the father is free to proceed to take the case to court. Unlike divorce cases, resolution for single parents is not complicated since there are no factors such as property division and spousal support.

3. Non-parental cases

Also known as third-party custody, non-parental cases are types of cases in which people other than the birth parents may want to obtain guardianship rights. These people may include close family friends, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. The state generally provides the correct approach that these people can use to claim custody. A person may seek the help of an attorney when filing the non-parental petition in family court. The petition must address three important issues: the person’s relationship to the child, the status of the birth parents (living or dead), and the reason for claiming guardianship. If the parents are living, a copy of the petition must be served on them.

Custody cases can become complicated if the parents are not willing to come to a mutual resolution. For this case, a child custody attorney will help address all of your child support and visitation concerns. If one or both parents decide to take the matter to family court, a lawyer will assist the father in the legal process and the options he has after the court verdict. Also, getting legal help in such cases helps ensure that children always have the support they need.