Child custody Lawyers in Fairfax, VA

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Issues surrounding the custody of children are sensitive, gut-wrenching and can be detrimental to all family members if they are not handled correctly and in accordance with the Virginia guidelines for recognizing the best interests of the children.  Consultation with child custody attorneys at Eisenhower, Laufer & Duran  is prudent for divorcing couples or unmarried parents to find out about the process and attempt to maintain stability for their children.  The degree of emotion tied to child custody disputes is enormous and the resolution will impact the future relationship with the children for each parent, and will often disrupt the stability of the children regarding their living space(s), daily routine, holiday traditions, and in some instances, how often they see siblings. 

Skilled child custody attorneys are an asset in smoothing out the many daunting fears for clients, as they struggle through custody battles.

Legal versus Physical Custody,.

Located in Fairfax, Virginia, our Child custody lawyers can explain state child custody laws to clients, as they pertain to both parents’ legal responsibility to the children. Virginia State law distinguishes between legal and physical custody. Legal custody is a parent’s right to make decisions regarding a child’s welfare, including those surrounding medical care, education, and religion.  Physical custody refers to the parent(s) who will provide a primary residence for a child.  Courts in Virginia can award sole, primary or shared physical custody of a child, depending on the best interests of the child. The child custody lawyers at Eisenhower, Laufer & Duran can be helpful in navigating this difficult and sensitive process. 

·  Joint legal custody: where both parents retain joint responsibility for the care and control of the child and joint authority to make decisions concerning the child even though the child's primary residence may be with only one parent;

·  Joint physical custody: where both parents share physical and custodial care of the child;

·  Sole custody: means that one person retains responsibility for the care and control of a child and has primary authority to make decisions concerning the child;

·  Visitation or Parenting Time: refers to the custodial schedule of the parents and the child;  

·  Parental education – the State of Virginia requires parties to complete parental education courses;  

·  Best interests of the child: the standard Virginia courts apply in awarding custody and visitation arrangements, including Pendente Lite arrangements;

·  Pendente Lite: a temporary order entered by the court pending actions for divorce, custody, support;

·  Custody Modification: where a parent seeks to modify an existing custody order.

Custody modifications. Child custody lawyer Fairfax Virginia are instrumental in child custody modifications when parents disagree on evolving custody issues. In Virginia, a party seeking to modify custody must demonstrate that there has been a material change in circumstance which warrants a change to the existing custody order. Legal counsel may need to make a court appearance or submit an order, even if such modification is agreed upon by both parents, because court orders remain in place unless or until superseded by a subsequent order. 

Eisenhower, Laufer & Duran, P.C.

10560 Main Street, Suite 515

Fairfax, Virginia 22030, United States

703-352-9690