Connecticut Child Custody & Support Attorney

child custody support

What Is In The Best Interests Of Your Children?

Custody of children and support of children are very important and often misunderstood concepts by those new to divorce. Understanding custody is key for making decisions that are in the best interests of the children.

The issue of custody is divided into two areas, “physical” custody and “legal” custody. Physical custody determines where the child resides, while legal custody pertains to which parent makes all major decisions for a child. These include decisions about medical issues, religious issues and schooling.

Parents must also decide whether they will share each type of custody jointly or assign each type to only one person individually. “Joint” custody means both parents make these decisions together. If the child spends the majority of his or her time with one parent, that parent may be said to have “primary physical custody,” while the other has “parenting time” or “visitation” with the child. Situations in which the child lives with each parent about half the time, are called “shared” physical custody situations.

What Are The Best Interest Factors?

The State of Connecticut generally makes rulings on custody by deciding what is in “the best interests of the child.” Because each family’s situation is different, the factors that are included in determining the “best interests of the child” differ slightly in each situation. However, they include information on each parent’s ability to provide for the child’s needs, which parent the child has spent the most time with to date, the child’s particular physical and mental health status, and other facts that relate directly to the best sources of care for the child.

Additionally, Connecticut law provides that the court may consider the child’s preferences, if the child is old enough to form a reasoned preference and is capable of expressing it. However, it is recommended that children’s thoughts on custody be obtained with extreme care, as the very nature of these discussions can be emotionally harmful to a child.

Conveniently Available To Help

With evening and weekend appointments, and with offices in Manchester, New Britain, Waterbury, New York, and Hartford, our child custody lawyers are conveniently available to help you. Our attorneys have the experience, client recommendations, and results to effectively and aggressively represent you to ensure your rights are protected. Contact us today to set up a consultation.

We Will Advocate For An Appropriate Child Support Award

If you are granted physical custody of your child, we will work to get you the maximum child support award available. If you were denied physical custody of your child, we will make sure that the child support award is fair and reasonable under the circumstances.

Call Today To Speak With A Child Custody Lawyer

If you’re facing custody issues during divorce, don’t hesitate to contact the Kocian Law Group by email or by phone at 860-730-6100. Our attorneys can help you navigate difficult issues in the best interests of yourself and your children.

To better serve our family law clients, we have four convenient locations throughout Connecticut, including Hartford, Waterbury, New Britain and Manchester.