Child Custody Lawyers in State College, PA

As a parent, your job is to protect your child by providing an environment where they can grow and thrive. Divorce, separation, and child custody issues can cause significant stress and turmoil, making it hard for you to focus on what matters. It is during these challenging times that you need a compassionate team to offer guidance and advocate for your family. You need an experienced child custody lawyer.

At Topinka Law, our dedicated child custody lawyers want to help you find legal solutions to your child custody issues. We take the time to listen to you, reflecting on your goals, concerns, and the best interests of you and your child. Next, we build a strategic, personalized plan to address your situation and move toward the most favorable outcome possible for your circumstances.

You would do anything to protect your child. We do everything possible to protect you and your family. Contact our office today and request a confidential legal consultation to learn more about your child custody options.

Pennsylvania Child Custody Laws

Child custody is a broad term. While parents may think they know what it means, the Pennsylvania family law system can make understanding child custody options confusing. Breaking down child custody jargon can help parents make more informed decisions about their child and the type of custody arrangement that may work best for their family.

Pennsylvania courts recognize two distinct forms of child custody:

• Physical custody
• Legal custody

Physical custody refers to the child’s primary residence, the parent with whom the child lives most of the time, or the parent who holds responsibility for the child’s daily care. Pennsylvania courts recognize the value of allowing a child to establish and maintain a solid relationship with both parents, making joint custody arrangements common. When one parent has primary physical custody of a child, that parent is known as the custodial parent. Typically, the noncustodial parent has periods of physical custody to help them maintain a meaningful relationship with the child.

Legal custody refers to a parent’s ability to make vital decisions on behalf of the child. Parents with legal custody of a child are involved in educational, medical, religious, and well-being decisions.

Legal and physical child custody arrangements can be sole or joint. Sole custody arrangements mean one parent has legal, physical, or both forms of custody of a child. While sole custody is rare, it is appropriate in certain circumstances. Joint or shared custodial arrangements mean that both parents are involved in raising the child on a mostly equal basis.

Factors that Influence Child Custody in Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania family court system weighs several factors when deciding who should have custody in child custody cases. The court’s primary concern is to act in the child’s best interests. That means evaluating each parent’s physical and emotional health, the parties’ financial situations, and other relevant factors to ensure the custody arrangement is in the child’s best interests and supports their learning and growth in a stable, loving environment. Some of the circumstances a judge may consider in Pennsylvania child custody cases include:

• Each parent’s ability to ensure the safety of the child
• Child’s relationship with siblings
• Each parent’s ability to provide a loving, stable, and nurturing environment for the child
• Parental duties of each parent
• Each parent’s ability to provide for the daily physical, emotional, educational, and developmental needs of the child
• History of drug or alcohol abuse
• Each parent’s mental and physical health
• Each parent’s ability to foster and encourage a good relationship with the other parent
• The ability of each parent to preserve stability and continuity in the child’s education, family, and community life
• The child’s relationship with other family members
• History of abuse, neglect, or sexual violence
• The child’s preference, depending on their age, maturity, and developmental stage
• Each parent’s availability to care for the child

Can You Modify a Child Custody Agreement?

Life is constantly evolving. As your child grows, their needs change. As you work to move forward with the next chapter of your life, your circumstances may also change. When these things happen, adjusting or modifying the terms of your child’s custody arrangement may be necessary.

Whether you are facing a change in your financial situation, remarriage, or relocation, a child custody lawyer at Topinka Law can help you modify your current child custody arrangement. Although altering the terms with a phone call or a handshake may be tempting, you must petition the court to modify an existing child custody order. Doing this protects you and your child and officially alters the terms of the child custody order, meaning the court can help you enforce the terms of the new arrangement if things turn sour.

Do You Need to Hire a Pennsylvania Child Custody Lawyer?

They say it takes a village to raise a child, but it also takes a village to protect a child’s rights. Navigating the complexities of the Pennsylvania family court system is not something you should do on your own. To ensure the best outcome possible for you and your family, you need the help and expertise that a skilled child custody attorney can provide.

The legal team at Topinka Law understands the ins and outs of the family court system. We use our unique knowledge and skill set to advocate for you and your family, finding personalized legal solutions to your child custody issues and or disputes. We prioritize your child’s needs and aim to craft a legal strategy that addresses their needs and your concerns for a fair outcome.

Types of Custody Cases We Handle

While child custody may be a blanket term, at Topinka Law, we know that every child custody case is unique. Our experienced child custody and family law attorneys have the knowledge and resources to help families navigate a wide range of legal situations. Our compassionate and dedicated legal team can help you manage child custody situations involving:

• Custody disputes during divorce
• Child custody and parental visitation rights
• Custody cases involving unmarried or separated partners
• Grandparents’ rights
• Stepparent adoptions

Our legal team can also present a fresh perspective on open child custody cases already in the court system, and you may benefit from a new set of eyes or a different legal strategy. No matter how complex, we will work passionately with families to navigate child custody disputes and find the best possible solutions to resolve your case.

Act Now to Protect Your Family

You can do everything in your power to protect your child, but you still need help. That’s where our legal team comes in. Contact us online today to talk to an experienced child custody attorney and learn how we can help you resolve your child custody dispute.