Splitting up with your spouse is often an emotionally tumultuous process, and it only becomes more complicated and challenging when children are involved.
Determining how much time a child will spend in the home of each parent can be difficult because it is about evaluating what is in the child’s best interest without alienating the child from either parent.
However, one huge mistake parents often make is trying to establish time sharing on their own and unintentionally creating more frustration and maybe litigation for themselves.
5 Signs You Should Hire a Child Custody Lawyer
Hiring a child custody lawyer benefits both the spouses and the children because an objective party is able to help make sure the outcome is best for everyone. However, if you are still on the fence, the following are five signs you should consider hiring a child custody lawyer.
#1: Your child may be in danger
If your child is in imminent danger, you should first and foremost alert the appropriate authorities, such as calling 911 and/or Department of Children and Families (DCF), and potentially filing for a restraining order. That being said, danger and abuse come in a variety of forms, and some aren’t as visible as physical danger, such as emotional or mental abuse and neglect. You should hire an experienced child custody attorney who can help fight the battle with you to ensure your child is placed in a safe and loving environment.
#2: The other parent has hired an attorney
If the other parent of your child has hired an attorney, you should hire an attorney as well to even the playing field. It is important that you have a professional on your side to represent your interests.
#3: Your case has special circumstances or has significantly changed
Every parent and family unit are different and in some cases, may have unique or special circumstances, such as having a disabled child requiring special care or a child experiencing intense emotional challenges requiring diagnosis or treatment. An attorney can be your best asset to handle the special circumstances of your child custody case.
#4: The other parent wants to move
One parent may ask the court to be allowed to move to move to a different city or state, which can complicate child custody cases—especially since each state has different laws when it comes to child custody. This is when hiring a lawyer becomes valuable to your case and helps you navigate this set of challenges. Florida has a specific statute regulating the movement of children to new areas.
#5: Denying you child custody or visitation
In some cases, the other parent may unlawfully choose to deny the other parent any custody or visitation. The reality is that unless the court has approved your agreement or entered the timesharing order parents can legitimately disagree, and you cannot enforce a verbal agreement. If this happens, it would be in your best interest to hire a child custody attorney who can help shape and legalize the custody and visitation agreement for the best interest your child.
Hiring the Right Child Custody Lawyer
Child custody battles are rarely easy to navigate. The most important thing is to keep the child’s best interest at the forefront of any agreement. Even if it is an amicable split, hiring an attorney can be in your best interest.
At Apfelbaum Law, we understand the sensitive nature of family law matters and can assist and advise you on how Florida law governs family relationships, and we can protect your rights. Contact our team today to learn how we can best help you with your child custody case.
