Nassau County Child Custody Lawyer

Helping New York Families Move Forward

"Divorced with children." These are the three scariest words for most parents. When you see the future fading before your eyes with every decision you'll have to make, nothing is more important than fighting for a sound parenting agreement.

At The Meyers Law Group, P.C., it is our priority to ensure that the best plan for your children that you deem fair and right is fulfilled.

To discuss your case with our Nassau County child custody attorneys, call (631) 496-1484 or contact us online today.

Types of Child Custody in New York

In New York, the parents can come to a custody agreement regarding care of the child. If the parents can't agree, the judge assigns custody of the child.

Child custody decisions typically fall under two categories:

• Legal Custody: Legal custody refers to the right of a parent to make important decisions about the child’s life, including decisions about education, medical care, and religious upbringing. Legal custody can be granted to one parent (sole legal custody) or shared between both parents (joint legal custody).

• Physical Custody: Physical custody determines where the child will live on a daily basis. A parent with physical custody will have the child living with them most of the time, while the other parent may have visitation rights or shared parenting time. In some cases, the court may award joint physical custody, allowing both parents significant time with the child.

The court sometimes awards joint legal custody of a minor child to both parents, which gives each parent the right to participate in the child's life, including making important decisions on behalf of the child. Joint physical that involves splitting equal time with the child is not typical.

If the court awards sole custody to one parent, the other parent has the right to make important decisions on behalf of the child but does not have the right to see, speak with, or spend time with the child.

While the law prioritizes the child’s best interests in making custody decisions, each case is unique. A Nassau County child custody attorney will tailor a strategy based on the specific facts and circumstances of your case.

Factors Considered in Child Custody Cases

New York courts base child custody decisions on a variety of factors to determine what is in the best interest of the child. The following factors are often considered when evaluating custody arrangements:

• The child’s relationship with each parent

• The child’s preferences, depend on the child’s age and maturity.

• The parents’ ability to co-parent

• Each parent’s stability

• Any history of abuse or neglect

• The child’s health and well-being

• Each parent’s work schedule

The role of a Nassau County child custody lawyer is to present compelling arguments based on these and other factors to advocate for a custody arrangement that serves the child’s best interests.

Temporary Child Custody in Nassau County

While child custody orders are typically made in relation to the dissolution of a marriage, they also commonly arise during many other proceedings, including temporary custody, establishing custody when the parents weren't married, obtaining an emergency child custody order, or because a parenting agreement has been violated.

In fact, child custody can be an inordinately time-sensitive matter, and a complicated one, especially when parents live in different jurisdictions. If you have questions about establishing, modifying, or otherwise addressing a child custody arrangement, The Meyers Law Group, P.C. can help you. Call our Nassau County child custody lawyers today at (631) 496-1484 for a consultation.

How Child Visitation Is Decided

In the event that the parents are amicable and can agree on a custody schedule, either in conjunction with their parenting plan or via a custody agreement established at a later date, the court can sign the agreement into law, ensuring that the child's visitation is being observed, contact is consistent, and the other requirements are met.

However, in many instances this is not the case, and the parents are otherwise unable to agree. In these instances, the court must receive proposals from each party. Then the court will set up some consistent default, which is with every other weekend. In other cases where custody may impact the other decisions of the parents, temporary orders may be established as early as thirty days of the service of the summons or the service of the complaint or notice, or the first court-ordered temporary orders.

Eventually, a temporary order will lead to a final order. Whether or not this order benefits you will largely depend on your legal representation.

Seeking Visitation in Nassau County

Nassau County courts are more willing to allow for regular visitation of parents with joint and sole custody, but courts focus on the standard of living and individual lifestyles when they weigh visitation. Therefore, stay-at-home parents and working parents vary greatly in visitation rights in large part due to inconsistent weekday schedules and other lifestyle factors.

In this situation, it is important that your Nassau County visitation lawyer assist you with your child support and visitation case.

Modifying Child Custody Orders in Nassau County

Child custody arrangements are not set in stone. As children grow and family dynamics change, it may be necessary to modify a custody order. If either parent’s circumstances change, a Nassau County child custody lawyer can assist in petitioning the court for a modification to the existing order.

To successfully modify a custody order in Nassau County, the parent requesting the change must demonstrate that there has been a substantial change in circumstances that warrants a modification. These changes could include:

• A significant change in the child’s needs

• A change in one parent’s ability to care for the child

• A parent’s failure to comply with the current custody arrangement

• A parent’s relocation or a significant change in the family’s living situation

If you're seeking a modification of your child custody arrangement, it’s important to work with a Nassau County child custody attorney who can guide you through the legal process and help you present a strong case for the modification.

Enforcement of Custody Orders

Once a child custody order is issued, it must be followed. If one parent is not adhering to the custody or visitation order, the other parent may need to take legal action to enforce the order. Violations of custody orders, such as withholding visitation or preventing contact with the child, can result in serious consequences, including contempt of court charges.

A Nassau County child custody lawyer can assist in enforcing a custody order by filing a petition for enforcement or seeking contempt charges against the non-compliant parent. This ensures that the child’s best interests are maintained and that both parents are held accountable for complying with the court’s orders.

Why Hire a Child Custody Attorney in Nassau County?

During the separation or divorce process, our team from The Meyers Law Group, P.C. can be there to assist you every step of the way. We understand what is at stake, and we can help you fight tirelessly for the future you desire.

Our Nassau County divorce and family law attorneys are highly experienced and easy to work with. When you hire our firm, you can choose your level of service. You can hire us to manage your entire case, and to make every important decision for you, or you can hire us simply to give you sound counsel throughout the process, and to provide you with the information and resources you need to make your own legal decisions.​

This approach allows our clients to remain in control of their own lives and futures.

Experienced Guidance Throughout Your Case

The discernment of someone who has the skill and the time to work through the fine details that a divorce and separation agreement require is incredibly helpful. You can rest assured that our highly skilled attorneys serving Nassau County have the professional sensitivity to help guide these often emotionally laden and difficult conversations, and to ensure that everything is written in your favor. Our team at The Meyers Law Group, P.C. is equipped to handle any case no matter how complicated.

To discuss your case with our Nassau County child custody lawyer, call (631) 496-1484 or reach out online.