Top Columbia, CT Child Custody Lawyers Near You
Child Custody Lawyers | Canterbury Office | Serving Columbia, CT
1 Knollwood Drive, Unit 4, Canterbury, CT 06331
Get local legal help for your Child Custody issues. The Law Office of Michelle Fleming Sigfridson, L.L.C. assists clients in the Columbia, Connecticut area.
Free Consultation
Child Custody Lawyers | Hartford Office | Serving Columbia, CT
97 Oak Street, Suite 100, Hartford, CT 06106
The O'Neil Law Firm, P.C., a reputable Child Custody firm representing clients in the Columbia, Connecticut area.
Free Consultation
Child Custody Lawyers | Hartford Office | Serving Columbia, CT
638 Prospect Ave., Hartford, CT 06105
Other Nearby Offices
In the Columbia, Connecticut area, McConnell Family Law Group can help you resolve your Child Custody issues.
Child Custody Lawyers | Hartford Office | Serving Columbia, CT
100 Pearl Street, 10th Floor, Hartford, CT 06103
Child Custody Lawyers | Hartford Office | Serving Columbia, CT
One Constitution Plaza, 5th Floor, Hartford, CT 06103
Child Custody Lawyers | Windsor Office | Serving Columbia, CT
20 Maple Avenue, Windsor, CT 06095
Child Custody Lawyers | Hartford Office | Serving Columbia, CT
419 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06103
Child Custody Lawyers | Glastonbury Office | Serving Columbia, CT
2252 Main Street, Glastonbury, CT 06033
Child Custody Lawyers | Bloomfield Office | Serving Columbia, CT
3 Regency Drive, Bloomfield, CT 06002
Child Custody Lawyers | Hartford Office | Serving Columbia, CT
100 Pearl Street, Suite 1100, Hartford, CT 06103
Child Custody Lawyers | Hartford Office | Serving Columbia, CT
100 Pearl St, 11th Floor, Hartford, CT 06103
Child Custody Lawyers | Hartford Office | Serving Columbia, CT
28 North Main St, Suite G-2, Hartford, CT 06105
Child Custody Lawyers | West Hartford Office | Serving Columbia, CT
924 Farmington Ave., 3rd Floor, West Hartford, CT 06107
Child Custody Lawyers | Hartford Office | Serving Columbia, CT
185 Asylum Street, City Place II, 15th Floor, Hartford, CT 06103
Child Custody Lawyers | Bloomfield Office | Serving Columbia, CT
55 Woodland Ave., Bloomfield, CT 06002
Child Custody Lawyers | West Hartford Office | Serving Columbia, CT
1028 Boulevard, Suite 311, West Hartford, CT 06119
Child Custody Lawyers | Hartford Office | Serving Columbia, CT
81 Wethersfield Avenue, Hartford, CT 06114
Child Custody Lawyers | Waterford Office | Serving Columbia, CT
185 Boston Post Rd, Waterford, CT 06385
Child Custody Lawyers | Marlborough Office | Serving Columbia, CT
9 Austin Dr, Marlborough, CT 06447
Child Custody Lawyers | Enfield Office | Serving Columbia, CT
94 High Street, Enfield, CT 06082
Child Custody Lawyers | Plainville Office | Serving Columbia, CT
322 East Street, Plainville, CT 06062
Child Custody Lawyers | Rocky Hill Office | Serving Columbia, CT
41 New Britain Ave., Rocky Hill, CT 06067
Child Custody Lawyers | Vernon Office | Serving Columbia, CT
62 Hyde Avenue, Vernon, CT 06066
Child Custody Lawyers | Woodbury Office | Serving Columbia, CT
43 Sherman Hill Rd, Suite D-201, Woodbury, CT 06798
Child Custody Lawyers | Portland Office | Serving Columbia, CT
262 Marlborough St, Suite 101, Portland, CT 06480
Columbia Child Custody Information
Lead Counsel Verified Attorneys In Columbia
Lead Counsel independently verifies Child Custody attorneys in Columbia and checks their standing with Connecticut bar associations.
Our Verification Process and Criteria
Ample Experience Attorneys must meet stringent qualifications and prove they practice in the area of law they’re verified in.
Good Standing Be in good standing with their bar associations and maintain a clean disciplinary record.
Annual Review Submit to an annual review to retain their Lead Counsel Verified status.
Client Commitment Pledge to follow the highest quality client service and ethical standards.
Find a Child Custody Attorney near Columbia
Are You Trying to Get Custody of a Child?
Achieving custody of a child can be a highly emotional battle between parents. Add to that a number of legal issues courts weigh to award custody and child custody cases can become daunting. This area of law significantly impacts the child’s present well being and future.
Legal Issues in Child Custody
In determining who gets custody, courts consider what is in the “best interest” of the child, which is a broad term that does not have a fixed standard and can take into account a number of considerations. Child custody law is complex, so to get the best result obtaining the services of a qualified Columbia attorney who practices child custody law is imperative.
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.Best Time to Seek Legal Help
No matter what your legal issue may be, it is always best to seek legal help early in the process. An attorney can help secure what is likely to be the best possible outcome for your situation and avoid both unnecessary complications or errors.
Tips on Approaching an Initial Attorney Consultation
- Use the consultation as a means of gaining a better understanding of your legal situation.
- Ask the attorney how many cases similar to yours he/she has handled. An attorney’s experience and knowledge can speak to their expertise (or lack of) in addressing your situation.
- Your attorney should be able to articulate roughly how long a case like yours will take to resolve and what sort of procedures to expect.
- Determine how comfortable you are working with the lawyer and/or law firm.
How will an attorney charge me?
A reputable attorney will be very upfront about how he/she will charge you. The three most common fee structures that attorneys use to charge for their services are:
- Bill by the hour
- Contingent fee agreement
- Flat fee agreement
Depending on your specific legal situation, it’s possible that only one type of fee structure is available. For instance, criminal defense attorneys almost always bill by the hour. In a flat fee arrangement, an attorney accepts a one-time payment to help you resolve your issue. With a contingent fee agreement, the client pays little to nothing upfront and the attorney receives a percentage of the money recovered if you win your case.
Common legal terms explained
Plaintiff – a person or party who brings a lawsuit against another person(s) or party/parties in a court of law. Private persons or parties can only file suit in civil court.
Judgment – A decision of the court. Also known as a decree or order. Judgments handed down by the court are usually binding on the parties before the court.