Macungie Visitation Lawyer
Determining which parent has custody of the children is often one of the most contentious issues in divorce. Parents sometimes use their kids as weapons in the ongoing war with their spouse or ex-spouse. This is bad for the children and the parents, but is sometimes unavoidable.
Protecting the Best Interests of the Child
At my Allentown law firm, The Law Office of Robert Sharpe, I help parents get through custody disputes. My goal is always the best interests of the children, and I take time to help clients understand that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania also uses that standard when evaluating custody. Understanding this often helps parents resist the urge to punish the other party by challenging custody or visitation; the person who is really punished in these circumstances is the child, who should not be a pawn in parental battles.
Helping Clients Protect the VIPs in Their Lives
Physical Custody
I help clients develop custody and visitation arrangements that work and are enforceable. There are almost unlimited variations on how child custody is set up: sole, partial, primary and shared custody. However, usually one parent has primary physical custody — where the child lives and sleeps — and the other has liberal visitation rights. This approach has the virtue of providing the child with stability from day to day and week to week.
Legal Custody
Although one parent may be given primary physical custody, the preferred arrangement for legal custody is to award it to both parents jointly. Legal custody involves decision-making for the child in areas such as religion, health and education.
Related Custody Matters
As a family law attorney, I am sometimes called upon to help clients deal with other custody-related issues such as:
- Modifications of custody and visitation
- Grandparent and other relative visitation
- Custody enforcement
In these matters, as with original custody determinations, I am an advocate for the children as well as for my clients.
For information about family law, contact an Allentown child custody lawyer. Call The Law Office of Robert Sharpe at 610-628-3486 or toll free at 888-902-4003.
