La Vergne Child Custody Lawyer
Child Custody Attorney In La Vergne, TN
The difficulty of going through a divorce is compounded when there are children involved. You want your kids to be happy above everything else. You would rather take the kids swimming on Percy Priest Lake or hiking through Long Hunter State Park instead of coordinating pickups. When you need to establish a parenting plan as part of a divorce, a La Vergne child custody lawyer can help ensure your parental rights are honored.
Hire a Child Custody Lawyer
Going through a divorce is always challenging, but establishing a fair child custody agreement can be highly emotional. When you hire a child custody lawyer, you want one with the necessary experience to fight for your interests. At Evans Bulloch Parker PLLC, we have been serving residents of Middle Tennessee since 1975. As the oldest firm in Murfreesboro, we have decades of experience negotiating and litigating for fair custody agreements. If you live nearby, a La Vergne Family Lawyer from our team can also assist you with compassionate and experienced legal representation.
Divorce Rates in the United States
The Pew Research Center regularly conducts research on family life in the United States. They have found that 40% of divorces occur within the first nine years of marriage, with only 22% of divorces occurring after 25 or more years. This pattern indicates that couples are more likely to divorce during the years they are raising children than after their children have grown.
Child Custody in Tennessee
In La Vergne getting divorced can affect both the adults and the children in a family. Child custody laws can be complicated. Tennessee considers two different types of custody when making arrangements for the best interest of the child. Physical custody determines where the child lives, while legal custody determines who can make decisions about the child.
Physical custody arrangements can vary. Either sole or joint physical custody is awarded. Factors that determine physical custody include:
- The best interests of the child
- Work schedules
- School enrollment
- Extracurricular activities
Legal custody determines which parent can make important decisions about the child’s upbringing. Legal custody is typically held by the primary guardian, but there are situations in which joint legal custody is awarded and both parents have to sign off on decisions. Decisions made by the legal guardian typically include:
- Healthcare
- Education
- Religion
- Extracurricular activities
Child Custody Determination
When a judge considers divorce agreements that involve child custody, their overall goal is to ensure the best interests of the child are being met when determining both physical and legal custody. To do so, judges consider several factors:
- Child/parent relationships
- Sibling/family member relationships
- Child’s adjustment
- Continuity for the child
- Parents’ history of substance abuse or violence
- Child’s preference
- Parents’ physical, mental, and emotional well-being
- Parents’ work schedules
Ultimately, custody decisions are made with the child’s stability and well-being as the highest priority. Whenever possible, the courts will generally strive to create an arrangement that supports a healthy environment for the child that includes both parents.
Contact Evans Bulloch Parker PLLC
When you’re faced with changes in your family dynamic, you want the representation of a family law attorney with the skills and knowledge to ensure you and your children get a fair custody agreement. Contact Evans Bulloch Parker PLLC today to schedule your initial consultation.