Child Custody Lawyer in Clinton County, PA
Child custody cases determine how parents divide time with their shared children and address primary parenting concerns. These are called physical and legal custody, respectively. If you and your children’s other parent are divorcing or breaking up, your rights as a parent are paramount. Our experienced Clinton County child custody lawyers at Topinka Law can help.
Determining Child Custody Arrangements in Clinton County
If you and your children’s other parent are no longer together, you’ll need child custody orders to establish primary decision-making rights and your parenting time. Because each is critical, most parents prefer to negotiate terms they can both agree to. Doing so comes with all the following benefits:
- Allows you to retain authority over this key decision, which means you won’t require the court’s intervention
- Can be faster and less expensive than going to court
- It can help reduce the heat in your case, which can benefit your entire family, including your children
A knowledgeable child custody attorney will fiercely advocate for favorable terms that support your rights as a parent and that work well for you and your children. If your case does go to court, it will likely be heard at the Clinton County Court of Common Pleas in Lock Haven.
How Child Custody Cases Are Generally Resolved
Most child custody cases in Pennsylvania are resolved in one of two ways.
Shared Physical Custody
Shared physical custody means that the parents divide their overnights with the children somewhat evenly. There are several common rotation schedules that Pennsylvania courts turn to when they hand down orders for shared physical custody. However, the schedule must be based on the children’s best interests and tailored to the family’s unique circumstances.
Primary Physical Custody
Primary physical custody means one parent has significantly more overnights with the children than the other. The parent without primary physical custody generally receives a partial physical custody schedule. This approach is often used to maintain the status quo when it serves the children’s best interests, such as when one parent has been far more involved in raising them to date.
If You Have No Court Order in Place
Before there is a child custody order in place, you and your children’s other parent share an equal right to custody. This means that each of you has the right to take physical possession of your children at any time. If, however, a parent’s actions are deemed unreasonable, it can directly affect how the case is resolved.
Discuss Your Case with Our Experienced Clinton County Child Custody Attorneys Today
Our dedicated Clinton County child custody lawyers at Topinka Law have extensive experience guiding challenging cases like yours toward optimal outcomes, and we’re here for you, too. For more information, contact us online or call 814-954-7280 today