Fairfax Child Custody Lawyer

Devoted Attorneys for Child Custody in Fairfax, VA

Parents are often placed in stressful positions in a divorce as they juggle the fallout of their marriage while trying to shield their children from harm. If you have concerns about child custody during your divorce, an attentive family law attorney can help lay your fears to rest. Every family has different needs, and with the right legal representation, you can make sure that your child grows up in a healthy environment.

At Salvado Law Offices, our attorneys represent clients in all kinds of child custody cases. We provide highly individualized representation and counsel for parents in divorce and family law matters, working to achieve solutions that meet the child's physical and emotional needs.

How Is Custody Decided in Virginia Divorces?

In Virginia, neither fathers nor mothers are given a special right to custody. Rather, the courts will make decisions based on the child's best interests above all else. Numerous factors are considered in regard to the child's best interests, such as:

• The child's developmental needs based on their age as well as their physical and mental health
• The health of both parents
• The child's relationship with both parents
• The child's relationship with siblings, peers, and other family
• The role each parent played in the child's upbringing, and what role they will continue to play
• Any history of mistreatment by the parents against the child, such as neglect or abuse
• The child's preference, factoring in age and maturity

Unless a parent's presence would seriously endanger the child, Virginia courts usually seek to foster a positive relationship between the child and parents after a divorce. Parents are expected to promote a healthy family dynamic by not sabotaging the child's relationship with the other parent. At Salvado Law Offices, our attorneys can help you make a compelling case for custody that allows your child to enjoy a happy, healthy upbringing.

Parenting Plans

A parenting plan is a legal document that creates a framework for addressing the child's needs, with provisions for legal and physical custody. When drafting this document with your co-parent, you will have to work out who the child will live with. Many parenting plans include a 50/50 split of physical custody, but the exact split of parenting time might differ from family to family. In other cases, one parent could be awarded sole physical custody, in which case the other parent would receive parenting time on a visitation schedule.

The other major consideration for Virginia parenting plans is decision-making responsibility. In a parenting plan, both parents are typically given control over certain aspects of the child's life. These decisions usually pertain to education, healthcare, religious choices, and extracurricular activities.

A parenting plan can also establish how you and your co-parent should communicate on issues about your child going forward. This can be helpful for maintaining a civil relationship as parents and avoiding future conflicts. While a parenting plan is not required in Virginia, a judge may order parents to draft a parenting plan with the help of a mediator. If parents cannot reach an agreement, the judge may make the final decisions about how child custody will be handled. An attorney at Salvado Law Offices can help you negotiate a parenting plan that will fully outline your and your co-parent's shared responsibilities.

Speak With a Fairfax, Virginia Child Custody Attorney Today

We all want the best for our children. A child custody lawyer in Fairfax can advocate for your rights as a parent, making sure that your concerns are heard during a divorce. At Salvado Law Offices, we offer comprehensive representation to clients, helping them address issues related to family law, including disputes about physical and legal custody. With over 100 5-star reviews, we have made a name for ourselves as compassionate advocates. To schedule a consultation with our attorneys today, call our offices at 301-933-1814 or reach out to us online.