Bergen County Child Custody Lawyer
The experienced Bergen child custody lawyers at Arons & Solomon Divorce Lawyers know that these cases can be legally and emotionally difficult. We help our clients find a sense of stability. If you have a child custody case and you need a lawyer, contact us at (201) 487-1199 for a free consultation today.
Child custody cases can be complicated and the personal issues involved can lead to high-conflict interactions. Even if you think your divorce or child custody case will be low-conflict, you want to make sure that you get the best child custody arrangement for you and your children. It can help to hire an experienced lawyer.
We maintain a selective caseload that ensures we have the time to give each client our personal attention. We know how emotional, stressful, and overwhelming these kinds of cases can be and we are here to support you in this process. When you call our office, you will speak directly with a lawyer.
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How Arons & Solomon Divorce Lawyers Can Help You in Your Child Custody Case
Together, our New Jersey divorce and family law attorneys have hundreds of years of combined experience in practicing family law. Our attorneys are skilled at mediation, negotiation, and litigation. We have what it takes to handle your custody case as the circumstances require.
It can be less stressful if family law issues can be resolved through collaborative measures. We have experience using alternative dispute resolution methods such as mediation to help parents develop a plan together that works best for their family.
When parents work together, children reap the benefits.
Unfortunately, it is not always possible to resolve disputes amicably. When you need someone to stand up for you and protect your children from an abusive parent who won’t work with you, we can safeguard your rights through litigation.
Bergen County divorce lawyer Marion Solomon is a “Master” in New Jersey Family Law Inn of Court, a designation that reflects her years of dedication to her clients. Marion uses her years of experience to put her clients at ease throughout the difficult legal process.
Practicing family law exclusively since 1991 and a certified mediator since 1995, Mitchell Arons co-founded the Collaborative Divorce Association of North Jersey in 2006. He is known in the state of New Jersey and the legal community for his strong skills and respectful manner.
What Our Child Custody Lawyers in Bergen County, New Jersey Will Do
When representing you in your child custody case, our attorneys will start by listening.
Once we have heard you, we will provide advice and guidance to get optimal results for you.
It’s also our job to gather relevant information. We will work with you to collect any documents or testimony required to present your child custody case in its best light.
We set expectations for our client’s case progress. In many situations, parents feel compelled to react quickly. We will always do what it takes to keep your children safe. However, when appropriate, we will help you bring issues to a sustainable long-term conclusion.
We are knowledgeable about cooperative and collaborative methods, which have their virtues. We are also assertive negotiators and litigators when the case requires.
Every case and every family is different. We have experience in a wide variety of case types, including cases involving:
- Custody between unmarried parents
- Custody between LGBTQ parents
- Custody cases with court-ordered custody evaluations
- Custody cases with substance abuse issues
Custody cases can involve any aspect of the child’s life that impacts the child’s best interest. We have what it takes to handle your case no matter what issues are involved.
Every case is unique and we are prepared to navigate novel issues if necessary. Give our experienced family law attorneys a call today so we can listen to your story and help you start to move forward.
Overview of Child Custody in New Jersey
New Jersey law provides both parents with equal child custody rights. The best interest of the child standard guides all legal decisions. To decide custody arrangements, the court considers:
- The needs of the child and
- Both parents’ abilities to provide for those needs
Every child’s needs, and every parent’s abilities, are different. We can help you secure a child custody arrangement that meets your child’s needs and encourages a thriving family dynamic.
Best Interest of the Child
The factors used by the court in determining the best interest of the child are codified by New Jersey law.
In general, the court will consider factors related to the child or children, the parents, and the custodial environment.
Although the law lists many factors that should be taken under consideration, a court can consider any evidence relevant to the child’s best interest.
Factors relating to the individual child or children include:
- The age and number of children
- The needs of each child
- The child’s interaction with its parents and siblings
- The quality and continuity of the child’s education
- The child’s preference, if the child is old enough and has a reasonable preference
- The safety of the child
The court can consider any evidence relevant to the individual child’s needs. If a child has special educational, medical, or other differentiated needs, we can help you identify the evidence the court will need to ensure that the custody plan meets the child’s needs.
Regarding parents and the custodial environment, the court will consider:
- The fitness of the parents
- The history of domestic violence, if any
- The safety of the child and the safety of either parent from physical abuse by the other
- The parents’ willingness to accept custody, and any history of unwillingness to allow parenting time, unless the unwillingness was based on substantiated abuse
- The parents’ cooperation and communication regarding matters relating to the child
- The extent and quality of the time spent with the child before or after the separation
- Both parents’ employment responsibilities
- The geographical distance between parental homes and
- The stability of the home environment
The court is not limited to these factors. The court can consider any evidence relevant to the issue of the custody arrangement that is in the best interest of the child.
New Jersey courts prioritize these factors over the wishes of parents and grandparents. However, we understand that parents’ wishes are often based on facts surrounding these factors. Contact us and we will help you tell your story in light of these factors.
Understanding Custody in New Jersey
When we talk to parents about custody arrangements, there are some legal terms involved.
Joint Custody
Joint custody can be made up of legal custody or physical custody. It includes where the child should live and how the parents will consult in making major decisions about the child’s health, education, and general welfare.
Physical custody describes where the child lives and spends time. Legal custody describes the authority to make major decisions about the child.
Sole Custody
In some cases, courts award physical and legal custody to one parent, with parenting time for the noncustodial parent. In New Jersey, a parent will not be deemed unfit unless their conduct has a serious negative effect on the child.
Parenting Plans
We can help our clients develop their Parenting Plan. New Jersey law requires a Parenting Plan, or custody arrangement, to be completed and signed by both parties before a divorce is finalized.
A parenting plan sets out the child custody schedule, living arrangement, and the process to be used by the parents in making decisions about the child. When parents disagree, the parenting plan guides the co-parenting process.
In New Jersey, a parenting plan includes details of legal and physical custody.
A parenting plan should address:
- The child’s primary residence
- A regular schedule of parenting time
- Holiday or vacation parenting time schedules or details on how holidays and vacations should be handled between the parents
- Decision-making authority for health care and medical decisions
- Each parent’s rights and responsibilities related to the child
- An amount of child support
- Procedures for changing the plan and settling disputes that might arise between the parents
Parenting plans can also address parental relocation, interactions with others (like babysitters or new dating partners), and agreements related to religion. The parenting plan can be tailored to the child’s special needs.
One common area in which disputes arise between parents is a vacation. New Jersey courts have acknowledged that vacations are an important part of childhood and that they strengthen the parent-child relationship. The parenting plan should include detailed vacation parameters, such as whether travel is allowed, at what times, to what destinations, and for how long.
If the parenting plan does not restrict vacation, a parent is free to travel with the children during their allotted parenting time. Parents are not allowed to disrupt the other parent’s parenting time. However, parents are always free to agree to extend the other parent’s time to allow the children to vacation.
Protecting Children from Abusive Ex-Spouse
In situations where amicable resolutions are not possible, we are here to fight for our clients. We have experience representing clients in cases involving domestic violence. If your original divorce settlement did not reflect the domestic violence inside your relationship, we can help protect your children. Call us today and we can help you get through any issue you’re facing.
Child Custody Lawyers Available Throughout Bergen County
At Arons & Solomon Divorce Lawyers, our child custody lawyers provide legal representation to clients throughout Bergen County.
We regularly handle custody disputes in:
- Teaneck
- Englewood
- Ridgewood
- Tenafly
- Franklin Lakes
- Upper Saddle River
- Allendale
- Old Tappan
- Hohokus
- Saddle River
- And other areas
Please don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and give our northern New Jersey law office a call to discuss your child custody case.
Call Our Experienced Bergen County Child Custody Lawyers
When you are faced with a child custody dispute in Bergen County, NJ, it can be difficult to figure out what to do next. Arons & Solomon Divorce Lawyers is ready to hear your story and help you move forward. Reach out to our law firm to schedule a free consultation with our experienced Bergen County child custody lawyers today.
Bergen County Child Custody Testimonial
https://goo.gl/maps/SAD3KrwR7pMJfEKN9
New Jersey Courts
- The Bergen County Courthouse – 10 Main St. Hackensack, NJ 07601
- Fort lee Municipal Court – 309 Main St. Fort Lee, NJ 07024
- Bergen County Clerk’s Office – 1 Bergen County Plz. Hackensack, NJ 07601
*Disclaimer – we do not endorse these companies or profit from having them listed on our website.
Recent Child Custody Blog Posts
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- Ways a Parent Can Lose Custody of Their Child
- The Pros and Cons of Shared Child Custody: What You Need to Know Before Making a Decision
- How To Get Temporary Custody for Extended Family Members in New Jersey
Areas We Serve in Bergen County
Hackensack, Bergenfield, Teaneck, Ridgefield Park, East Rutherford, Paramus, New Milford, Bergenfield, Saddle Brook, Tenafly, South Hackensack, and it’s surrounding areas.