CHILD CUSTODY ATTORNEY IN HARRODSBURG, KENTUCKY

In terms of family-related issues, child custody disputes can be some of the most emotional. If you and your child’s other parent cannot work out an arrangement, getting an attorney involved may be the answer you need.

At Weddle Law Office, PLLC, I’ll be here to explain your options and prepare you for any obstacles you may encounter in your battle for custody. I am ready to guide you through a variety of legal processes. Contact me when you need representation in a child custody hearing or help filing a complaint for modification.

I proudly represent clients in the Harrodsburg, Kentucky, area, including residents of Danville, Versailles, Nicholasville, and Lawrenceburg. Schedule a consultation today to get started.

Types of Child Custody

Custody is not as simple as choosing one parent or another to raise a child. It is broken down into multiple forms all centered around what is determined best for the child involved, including:

• Physical custody. This is awarded to the parent with whom the child will live with most often. The parent with physical custody is responsible for the daily care of the child.

• Legal custody. Both parents may share legal custody, meaning they both have the right to make decisions regarding their child’s education, health care, religion, and other major aspects of their life.

• Sole custody. A parent with sole legal and physical custody is exclusively responsible for their child. However, it is possible to have sole physical custody but share legal custody with the other parent.

• Joint custody. This arrangement typically involves a child spending equal time with both parents. It requires a great deal of cooperation from both parents. If you’re looking at a joint custody agreement, you will need to prove to the courts that you and your child’s other parent are capable of working together when it comes to your child’s care.

• Split custody. A rare arrangement, split custody grants one parent custody of one or more of the couple’s children, and the other parent custody of the other(s).

Talk to a dedicated child custody attorney when you have questions on which arrangement is best for your family.

Visitation Rights

Generally, all parents have a constitutional right to care for and control their children. The court can't deny a parent visitation, except after a hearing. A judge will only suspend or deny a parent’s visitation rights if the court determines—based on testimony and evidence—that visitation would seriously endanger the child's physical, mental, moral or emotional health.

How is a Custody Decision Made?

Child custody decisions are rarely black and white. Whether they’re determined through mediation or by the courts, they involve a variety of factors, such as:

• Wishes of the child (if old enough to capably express a reasonable preference)

• Age and sex of the child

• Relationship of the child to each parent

• Proximity of each parent’s home to the existing routine of the child’s life

• Both parents’ mental and physical health

• Need for continuation of stable home environment

• Involvement and opportunity for interaction with extended family members of either parent

• Interaction and interrelationship with other members of household

• Parental use of excessive discipline or emotional abuse

• Evidence of parental drug, alcohol or sex abuse

• Adjustment to school and community

• Religion and/or cultural considerations

Child custody decisions are often based on a “best-interest” standard, wherein a court takes all of the above aspects into account. However, Kentucky custody law requires judges to begin all custody hearings with a presumption that joint custody is in the child's best interest.

What About Unmarried Parents?

Most child custody cases involving unmarried parents follow the same processes as those of married couples facing divorce. Like many other states, Kentucky law typically grants a mother full custody of a child if she is unmarried, unless the child’s father initiates a custody dispute.

Why Weddle Law?

As a Kentucky child custody attorney, I have committed my practice to serving clients in some of their most difficult moments. I make personal connections with the families I represent, and I truly care about fighting for your desired outcome. You want the best for your family, just as I want the best for you. Contact my office in Harrodsburg today to schedule a consultation. I also work with families in Danville, Versailles, Nicholasville, and Lawrenceburg, Kentucky.