Determining where your children will spend most of their time can be among the most difficult of divorce related issues. When child custody and parenting disputes arise, the assistance of a caring and experienced lawyer can be vital to helping your family find the arrangement that will benefit your children the most.
At the law office of Gary J. Frank, P.C., our attorney takes great care to offer knowledgeable guidance and strong advocacy to clients in the Phoenix, Arizona, area who are struggling to come to child custody agreements. With nearly 30 years of experience, we are able to address even the most complicated and hotly contested child custody disputes, offering experienced court room representation or compassionate mediation guidance depending on your family's specific needs.
Contact our office online or call 602-383-3610 to discuss your specific child custody needs and to learn how we can be of assistance.
Determining Custody
We work diligently to help your family come to a custody arrangement that is beneficial for all parties. With that in mind, we offer experienced advice on:
- Joint custody: Joint custody is based on the concept that the parents can and will work together to make decisions for the best interest of the child. The courts generally believe that the child needs to have substantial time with both parents, making joint custody the preferred standard in today's family law court rooms. However, joint custody does not necessarily mean equal time and decision-making. A joint custody arrangement can be tailored to fit the specific needs of your family. In some cases, the court will appoint a "primary residential parent" and order that the children live with that parent the majority of the time. Parenting-time schedules can also be formulated to fit the needs of the children. Decision-making can be shared, or one person can be given the responsibility for making major decisions affecting the children. This may include medical, educational, social, and other important decision. Our attorney can help you come up with a plan that best suits the needs of your family. We can help you negotiate a beneficial arrangement or, if it becomes necessary, we can fight for you in court.
- Sole custody: Sole custody allows the custodial parent to make all decisions affecting the child, including those related to medical treatments, education, social and religion as well as the power to relocate the child.
We work hard to help you take control of your custody and parenting plans through our negotiation and mediation representation, allowing you to directly impact your children's future. Our goal is to settle the matter amicably; however, should that become impossible, then you can rest assured that our attorney will be a strong advocate on your behalf and work diligently to prove your case for custody in the family law courts, using his many years of experience as a courtroom litigator.
Modifications
As your children grow and their needs change, modigications to the custody and parenting plans often. Our attorney can assist with modifications due to:
- Relocation/move-away
- Scheduling needs
- Alcoholism or drug abuse
- Physical abuse
- Mental illness of a parent
- Failure or refusal to co-parent
- Improved parental situations
- Loss of income, or increase in income
- Any other situation requiring modification
Gary J. Frank is a devoted children's advocate. As your attorney, he will fight to protect the best interests of you and your children. Contact our office to discuss your specific custody or modification needs.
