Top West Lafayette, IN Child Custody Lawyers Near You
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416 Main Street, Lafayette, IN 47901
201 Main Street, Suite 810, Lafayette, IN 47901
12 N. Third Street, Suite 100, PO Box 310, Lafayette, IN 47902
103 North Jackson Avenue, PO Box 252, Fowler, IN 47944
415 Columbia St, Ste. 1000, Lafayette, IN 47901
West Lafayette Child Custody Information
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What Do Judges Look for in Custody Cases?
In every state, family court judges must consider what is in the child’s best interests when determining custody. In most cases, judges emphasize making sure the child will spend ample time with both parents. To make this happen, a judge will likely want to know what each parent’s home environment is like, whether each parent will be able to give a child the proper attention, and which situation the child will be most likely to thrive in.
Who Has Legal Custody of the Child When the Parents Aren’t Married?
If the parents are not married, the child’s biological parents both have parental rights unless the law says otherwise. An exception to this could be if no father is listed on the child’s birth certificate. In that case, the father would have to go through the legal process of establishing paternity to be able to assert his parental rights for visitation.
How Can a Mother Lose Custody of Her Child?
A mother can lose custody of her child in much the same way a father could. This could include abusing the child, abusing drugs or alcohol, providing an unsafe home environment for the child, or abandoning the child.
How Can You Change a Child Custody Order?
If you or your ex are unhappy with the current custody arrangement, you can negotiate a change to your agreement. If a judge feels that the changes are still in the child’s best interests, then they may approve the order. If one of you is pressing ahead with seeking a change and the other parent is contesting it, you will need to prove a “substantial” change in circumstances. This could include one of the parents moving out of state, suffering from a disability or illness that affects their parenting ability, exposing the child to an unsafe environment, or having a change in work circumstances that requires rescheduling of visitation.