Parents face the emotionally draining task of making major decisions before a relationship ends. One of the most important issues couples must resolve is the custody of their children. In these cases, parents need to seek the counsel of a child custody attorney. Nevada's child custody laws can be particularly complex. When you need a child custody attorney in Henderson or Las Vegas, contact the Leavitt Family Law Group for help. Our attorneys have more than four decades of combined experience. We can answer your questions and explain complex family law in easy-to-understand terms.
Types of Child Custody Cases in Henderson and Las Vegas
In Nevada, child custody cases can arise for one of two reasons, divorce cases or paternity cases. After a custody case is filed, the district court in Clark County has broad discretionary authority in deciding child custody issues. Child custody comes in two forms: legal and physical custody.
Legal Custody
Legal custody is the ability to make medical, educational, and religious decisions on behalf of your child. It's common practice for each parent to receive joint legal custody. This means that parenting decisions are shared and agreed upon by both parties. An award of sole legal custody may be granted to one parent if that parent can provide evidence to the court that the other parent has attempted to or has, in fact, frustrated their intent to establish a meaningful relationship with their child.
Physical Custody
Physical custody refers to the child's living arrangements, either primary or joint. Primary physical custody is when one parent has the child more than 60% of the time, while joint custody means the child spends an equal amount of time with each parent. Nevada state law presumes that an award of joint physical custody is in a child’s best interests. The courts use a variety of factors to determine whether joint physical custody to both parents or primary physical custody to one parent serves a child’s best interests.
The courts will assess all of the factors in the case to determine what custody arrangement is in the child's best interests. Many factors can influence this decision, but some of the most significant factors include the following:
- The child's current medical, educational, and emotional needs
- The need to provide consistency and stability in the child's life
- Each parent's ability to provide financial support for the child
- The child's preferences (depending on the age of the child)
- Parental abuse or neglect of the child
- If the parent has a history of domestic violence
- If the parent has had problems with alcohol or drugs
The ideal arrangement allows each parent to maintain a strong bond with their children. Maintaining a continuing relationship with both parents after parents separate or dissolve their marriage is Nevada's declared public policy. For more information regarding child custody issues, check out our blog posts.
Counseling Through the Conciliation Court
Our law firm has extensive experience developing and negotiating custody agreements in your child's best interest while protecting parental rights. The attorneys at Leavitt Family Law Group provide representation in various child custody issues, including visitation, living arrangements, relocations, and parental decision-making.
Our firm believes the efficacy of negotiated and mediated custody agreements ensures your child's best interests are served while meeting your goals and concerns. This approach ensures you have input and control in arriving at an agreed-upon parenting schedule, which often results in a better custody arrangement for the child.
Mediation often results in better dynamics between you and the other parent and helps avoid costly litigation in the future. However, if it is impossible to reach an agreement and litigation is the only avenue of resolution, we will aggressively represent your interests in court.
Child Custody Attorneys in Henderson
When children are involved, the stakes are at their highest. Contact the Leavitt Family Law Group when you need a child custody attorney in Henderson, Summerlin, or Las Vegas. We have the expertise to ensure all avenues are explored to secure as much time as appropriate and necessary between you and your children.
We approach every family law case with integrity, dignity, and compassion. Our attorneys recognize that divorce and custody issues are some of the most stressful situations anyone can experience. We're strong advocates for our clients and will aggressively but professionally protect the best interests of you and your children.
We Help Parents Address Common Child Custody Concerns, Including:
The impact of a parent having to move away.
The effect of a protracted divorce trial on custody arrangements.
Domestic partnership or same-sex dissolution and custody details.
How accusations or a conviction of domestic violence may influence a custody arrangement.
Stepparents' and grandparents' rights to visitation and custody.
How educational, medical, and other important decisions are impacted by custody arrangements.
Communication
We understand how clients in family law proceedings become frustrated when they cannot communicate with their attorneys. Open lines of communication are always available for our clients. We continually advise them each step of the way on what we are doing to assist them in resolving their cases.
When you need a child custody attorney in Henderson, don't hesitate to reach out. We approach every family law case with integrity, dignity, and compassion. When you retain us, you will receive individualized attention until your matter is resolved. We’re strong advocates for our clients and their families, and we will aggressively but professionally protect the best interests of you and your children.
Schedule a Las Vegas Child Custody Consultation
Contact us by phone or email to arrange for your confidential family law consultation with one of our attorneys. We promise to listen to you closely, answer your questions and advise you of your complete range of legal options.