Leesburg Child Custody Lawyers

Caring Attorneys Helping Clients in Leesburg, VA Resolve Child Custody Disputes

Working out a healthy child custody agreement in a divorce takes time and effort. Even in the most amicable situation, you and your spouse might have different ideas about who your child should live with and how their needs will be met. A dedicated Leesburg family law attorney can help you negotiate a fair custody agreement that serves your child's best interests.

At Salvado Law Offices, we know just how sensitive family matters can be. Our attorneys will handle your case with diligence and attentiveness, making sure that your concerns are heard by a judge. With over 100 5-star reviews, our firm has gained a reputation for thorough, honest representation.

How Is Custody Decided in Virginia?

The family law courts in Virginia will generally try to promote a healthy relationship between the child and both parents. This typically involves an arrangement of joint custody, where both parents will play an active role in the child's life. Custody is divided into two responsibilities:

• Physical Custody: This refers to the time the child will spend with each parent. In a joint custody agreement, the child might spend equal time at each parent's home on alternating weeks, but the exact schedule can be negotiated between the parents.
• Legal Custody: This refers to the authority to make decisions about the child's upbringing. In a joint custody agreement, parents might work together to make decisions related to schooling, religion, healthcare, and extracurricular activities.

It is fairly rare that the courts will grant one parent sole legal or physical custody. Sole custody is typically reserved for cases where one parent is entirely absent from the child's life or when one parent has a history of abuse or neglect.

Child Support

In most divorce and family law cases involving children, a judge will order the parent with a lesser share of physical custody to pay child support. This type of financial support is allocated based on a model of income shares, which factors in both parents' earnings to determine how much support should be paid.

Support is typically paid monthly, with serious consequences for unreasonably late payments. You can compel your spouse to pay child support by taking action to enforce a court order, and any missed payments may be garnished from the other parent's wages. Refusing to pay child support without a valid justification can be punished by jail time, drivers' license suspension, or other consequences.

At Salvado Law Offices, we can help you enforce an order of child support or help you petition for a modification of the court order. If you have experienced a material change in your financial circumstances, you could file a motion to have your monthly obligations reduced or paused.

Parental Relocation

Parental relocation is a formal legal process in Virginia. A custodial parent who wants to relocate with their child must give the other parent at least 30 days' notice prior to the move, unless that would not be possible. Even if you are relocating as the non-custodial parent, you may still need to give notice of your intent to move.

A parent can contest a relocation through a court hearing. A judge will place the child's best interests before any other considerations, and if the proposed move would damage the child's relationship with the other parent, the relocation could be denied. At Salvado Law Offices, our attorneys can represent you on either side of a relocation dispute, aggressively advocating for your rights as a parent and working to protect your children's best interests.

Get in Contact With a Leesburg, Virginia Child Custody Attorney Today

Parents going through divorce are often burdened with stress while trying to determine fair child custody arrangements. At Salvado Law Offices, our family law attorneys can give you sound legal advice throughout your divorce or family law case, fighting for a favorable outcome on your behalf. To schedule a consultation with our attorneys today, call our offices at 301-933-1814 or reach out to us online.