Parental Rights, Children’s Best Interests And Custody Orders

For every parent of minor children, child custody is the most heart-wrenching aspect of separation or divorce. At Tomich Law Firm, our family law attorneys will advocate for your parental rights so your children can grow up in an appropriate and healthy home.

Child custody in Missouri may consist of one or more of the following:

• Joint or sole legal custody (decision-making authority for a child)
• Joint or physical custody (which parent the child will live with most of the time)

If you entrust your child custody case to Tomich Law Firm, our lawyers will help ensure that you understand how the law and a family law judge’s decisions may have an impact on your family life. Our team will seek the outcome in your divorce decree or stand-alone custody order that you believe will support your child’s well-being and your parent-child relationship.

What The Law Says About Co-Parenting

To protect a child’s best interests as well as parental rights, Missouri laws spell out the factors that a court will consider when determining custody, including the following:

• The wishes of the parents and the proposed parenting plan that they submit to the court
• The needs of the child for a frequent, continuing and meaningful relationship with both parents and each parent’s willingness to support the child’s ongoing contact with the other
• Interactions and relationships with parents, siblings and other important people in the child’s life
• The child’s adjustment to their home, school and community, regardless of whether they are homeschooled
• The mental and physical health of all individuals involved as well as any history of abuse
• The intention of either parent to relocate the principal residence of the child
• The wishes of the child

Which of these factors, if any, may be difficult to sort out in your family’s custody case? Bring your concerns and your checklist of topics to discuss to your initial consultation with one of our child custody lawyers.

Experienced, Skillful Representation In Custody Cases

You and your attorney may pursue the outcome you seek through negotiations, mediation or litigation. If you are a client of Tomich Law Firm, we may gather input from one or more expert witnesses, such as a child psychologist. We will also help you document your parenting involvement to enhance your position.

To schedule a consultation about divorce, child custody, visitation and/or child support at our St. Charles, Missouri, law offices, call 636-735-7854 or send an email inquiry.