Determining Legal Custody of a Child

New Jersey Divorce Attorney

There are important distinctions between certain matters surrounding child custody. As part of a divorce proceeding, a court will work with involved parties and mental health professionals to assess what best meets a child's needs when deciding on custody matters. Whereas physical custody determines the actual primary dwelling place of a child, legal custody will determine parental rights to access information and make decisions regarding his/her child. It is important to protect these legal rights to custody, and you can obtain experienced help in doing so from a New Jersey divorce lawyer.

Since the court generally finds it in the best interest of a child to have the love and support of both parents, judges will most often grant legal custody rights to each parent, not just one. However there are many variables and issues that are considered when the court is determining legal custody rights, including:

• The ability of parents to agree and communicate on matters regarding their child
• The willingness of a parent to accept custody
• The child's interaction with parents and siblings
• Any history of domestic violence or abuse
• The fitness of the parents
• Age and number of children

These are just a few of the many issues a court might consider during legal custody determination. It is crucial to procure the help of a skilled attorney to ensure that your rights and interests are fully pursued, as well as those of your child.

Divorce Lawyer in New Jersey

We at the Law Offices of Steven P. Monaghan firmly believe providing sensitive and excellent care to each one of our clients. With a lead attorney certified as a Matrimonial Law Attorney by the Supreme Court of New Jersey, your interests will be pursued by a lawyer who has demonstrated substantial involvement in matrimonial trial matters and who has established an unblemished reputation among judges and attorneys.

For the excellent legal counsel you seek, contact a New Jersey divorce attorney as soon as possible.