Winston Salem Child Custody Attorney

Families that go through divorce have to deal with emotions, stress, and hardship of a lengthy legal process. This is where we can be of enormous help! Our team is dedicating to helping you find peace of mind as you go through the entire process.

As you deal with a child custody battle, we want to give you the confidence to move forward. We want to help you and your former spouse protect your family’s best interests. We will explain the consequences and ramifications of your agreement.

Why choose our child custody lawyers?

We have been in this practice for over 20 years

We are a Board Certified Family Law Specialist

We advocate for peaceful resolutions

We opt for creative, family-centered strategies

We have been serving families in Winston Salem, NC for over two decades. During this time, we have dedicated our service to providing each client who comes through our firm's doors with high-quality and professional legal representation. With our client-centered approach, we have emerged as a leader in divorce and family relations and settlements.

A child custody agreement can be reached through mediation or by the courts. Deciding which person gets custody is one of the most critical decisions that you and your former spouse have to make. It is a highly contentious process. Often, both parents want custody of their children. It may be preferable for both parents to have joint custody, but this may not always be the best decision. We want to pursue the solution that best fits your family.

Child custody in North Carolina is classified in the following ways:

• Legal custody - the right to make important decisions concerning the children including but not limited to their health and education
• Physical custody – determines where the child physically lives
• Joint custody – refers to the shared legal custody over the child or children
• Sole custody – refers to the right of one parent to have custody of the child

When spouses divorce, they can agree on child custody through mediation or conciliation. The agreement will be subject to court review and approval. However, if they cannot reach an agreement, the family court would have to intervene to protect the best interest of the child. Family courts have broad discretion when it comes to child custody cases.

Working with us will help you avoid a courtroom battle that could result in potentially losing custody of your child. It is better to enter into a mediation process with your former spouse and reach a mutually-beneficial agreement than lose control and have a judge decide the fate of your family.

A court-ordered agreement will be based on various factors, including:

• The kinds of environment that each parent can provide
• The health, lifestyle, and financial standing of the spouses
• History of drug or alcohol use
• History of domestic violence
• Child custody agreement or informal arrangements in place
• The relationship with both parents
• The child's preference, if he or she is over 12 years of age

We will stand by your side if you decide to modify an agreement due to changes in your situation such as relocation for a job. We can also help you if you would like to enforce a custody agreement.

We understand the laws involved and how they can affect your family. We will help protect the welfare of your child and your family as you transition into the next chapter of your life.