Child Custody Lawyers

Child custody is who cares for and makes important decisions for your children. Our primary goal as child custody lawyers is to protect the well-being of your children.  

What Are the Main Types of Custody?

The two main types of custody are legal custody and physical custody.

Legal Custody

Legal custody is how major decisions regarding your children are made. While each state defines legal custody decisions differently, they generally may include decisions on medical care, education, extracurricular activities, and general welfare.

By default, two parents have joint legal custody. In a custody dispute, different types of custody can be agreed to or awarded, including joint legal custody, sole legal custody, joint legal custody with final decision-making authority, or joint legal custody with a decision-making mechanism.

Physical Custody

Physical custody is also known as parenting time. It is the custody arrangement and access schedule that a family follows. It usually includes a regular day-to-day schedule, as well as holidays and vacations, among other things.

How is Custody Determined?

When there is a child custody issue, parents can come to their own agreement by entering into a parenting plan or custody agreement. If they cannot agree, they can ask the family court to enter a custody order. In determining custody, the court will look at what is in the best interest of the child.

How is the Best Interest of the Child Determined?

The best interest of the child is a subjective standard. Each jurisdiction has different family laws and applies different factors in determining the best interest of the child.

Factors That May Affect Custody

While each jurisdiction applies different factors, common factors include the capacity of the parents to communicate and reach shared decisions, willingness of the parents to share custody, the relationship between the child and each parent, the geographic proximity of the parents’ homes, the age and number of children, and the child’s preference.

How Our Child Custody Lawyers Can Help You 

Lerch Early’s family law attorneys focus on the best interests of your children. Thoughtful consideration of your family’s circumstances will help us resolve your child custody matter in a way that suits your family’s needs. Whether your custody dispute is simple or complex, we can help.

Consult With a Trusted Child Custody Lawyer

Lerch Early’s child custody lawyers will help you achieve a custody arrangement that promotes a healthy dynamic between parents and secures the long-term interests of your children. 

Contact a Child Custody Lawyer

Success Stories

Gaining Physical Custody in Relocation Case

Challenge

The mother of our client’s children planned to move away for a new job opportunity, taking the children with her. She had been the primary parent, so our client wished to gain sole physical custody of the children, allowing them to remain in the DC area.

Strategy

Lerch Early argued before the court that the children would be best served to stay in this area with their father. We worked with key experts to demonstrate that a move to the new location would be detrimental to the children’s interests.

Result

The judge awarded sole physical custody to our client, allowing the children to remain in the environment where they attended school and had friends.

Insights