For families dealing with a divorce, we know how devastating and exhausting the situation can be, especially when children are included. The lawyers at Jason White & Associates near American Fork, UT are experts in family law, whether it’s divorce, annulment, child custody or parental rights. At Jason White & Associates our team is known for winning cases and finding the best decision for each family, individual or couple.
Child custody
Child custody will always be settled based on the happiness of the child and sometimes these conclusions are quite tough for parents to make.
The child’s best interest is settled according to the following factors:
- The child’s age, gender, mental and physical well-being
- Physical and mental well-being of parents
- Lifestyle and social factors
- Love and emotional connections between parent and child
- Parents’ capacity to produce food, shelter, clothing and medical care
- Quality of schools in location
- Child’s preference if over age 12
- Skill and inclination of parent to support a good relationship between child and the other parent
- Environmental security
Types of custody arrangements
- Legal custody: The privilege and obligation to make decisions about child rearing. This involves education, religion, medical care and discipline. When awarded joint legal custody, parents share these rights.
- Physical custody: The ability of a parent to have a child living with them. Most courts order joint physical custody, though the time-split is often different than 50/50.
- Sole custody: Sole custody arrangements provide one parent with complete custody privileges and allow the other only visitation rights.
- Joint custody: This custody allows parents to coordinate their schedules and share decision-making accountability.
- Bird’s nest custody: This occurs when the child remains in one home and parents interchange in and out of the home and take turns taking care of the child.
Child support
Child support is a fixed amount of money that is typically paid monthly to the spouse who holds primary custody of the child. Child support is intended for basic necessities like food, housing and clothing, health insurance, medical care and educational costs. Child support is determined based on each parent’s monthly income and expenses. Centered on this financial information and the amount of time each parent devotes to the child, the court uses a formula to decide on child support.
Family law mediation
Family law mediation is used to deal with family conflicts. With family mediation, an unbiased third-party mediator encourages two parties to smooth out their disagreements as they reach an agreement. Family mediation can save the parties time and expenses associated with a trial, but the verdicts may not be legally conclusive.
Protective orders
If you are divorcing on account of physical or verbal assault, you can defend yourself and your children with protection and restraining orders from Jason White & Associates. These orders keep you disconnected from the abuser in order to stay unharmed. Though a protective order can’t fully eradicate the possibility that someone will stalk or injure you, it will enable you to call the police and have the abuser incarcerated should they breach the mandatory guidelines of the order.
Parental rights
This normally discusses a parent’s privilege to make decisions concerning a child’s education, health care and religion. Deliberating rights and responsibilities can be challenging, particularly when it comes to the parental liability of any spiteful or criminal conduct of your child. You are only accountable for your children’s actions until they are 18.
Adoption
Are you considering adoption in order to start or complete your family? The adoption process in American Fork can be long, difficult and frustrating, but an attorney from Jason White & Associates can guide your family through it. Whether you’re a couple considering adoption or a parent who desperately wants a child, we can help you come to the best solution.
Contact Us
If you need a child custody lawyer near American Fork, Utah, call Jason White & Associates to schedule a consultation.
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