When you’re a parent getting a divorce, your children are your top priority. It’s important to understand the basics of Virginia child custody and to be sure you have Virginia Beach divorce attorneys on your side to represent your rights and your child’s best interests.
When a child is young (infant through preschool age), courts are usually reluctant to make a custody ruling that would take the child away from the primary caregiver for any significant length of time. The person taking care of the child’s daily needs and with whom the child feels the most emotional connection is often favored.
For school age children, the judge may focus on their overall stability, family connections, and educational well-being. If a child is attending a school in a certain city or town, has lots of friends there, and is doing well, that information will be taken into consideration when custody decisions are made.
Older kids and teens are handled in a similar way, although some judges may take the opinions of these children into consideration when making a decision. This doesn’t mean that the court will defer to the child’s wishes, but that the information about the child’s preferences will be combined with other factors in order to come up with the right parenting plan.
Contacting a Virginia Child Custody Attorney
At Hofheimer Family Law Firm, we understand that the health and happiness of your children is your #1 concern. We will work with you to address any fears and anxieties you may have about your children’s future. Our women’s-only divorce attorneys will guide you every step of the way to ensure that you achieve the best possible child custody and child support arrangements for you and your children.
You can learn more by requesting one of our free divorce guides for women or reserving your seat at our monthly divorce seminar – 757-425-5200.