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Any involvement with the court system can be scary and stressful. Attorney Anthony Carbone has practiced in the Hudson County courts for over 20 years. He fights for your rights and guides you through the process. Read His Profile

 

Child Custody Lawyer

Jersey City & Newark, New Jersey


 

Custody Attorney NewarkWho Decides Who Gets the Children?

 

Determination of child custody is a very emotional part of the divorce process when a couple has a child or children. Often, each parent has a different idea of what is best for the child. Even when parents agree, it is important to get skilled legal advice on the long-term implications of the arrangement.

 

At the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone, P.C., in Jersey City, we help parents negotiate and litigate over child custody. Contact us to schedule a free confidential consultation about your child custody case.

 

Understanding the Factors the Court Will Consider

Under New Jersey law, there are a number of specific factors judges must consider when they decide the outcome of child custody cases. Divorce lawyer Anthony Carbone will carefully evaluate your case on the basis of all of these factors and recommend an appropriate strategy.

 

If your child custody case is contested, the judge may order a home evaluation and/or psychological evaluations of the child and the parents. He or she may also conduct an in camera interview with the child, at which lawyers and court staff will not be present.

 

Sorting Out Physical and Legal Custody

After evaluating the situation, the judge will make decisions about both physical custody — who is primarily responsible for providing a home for the child — and legal custody — who is responsible for making decisions about important issues like health care and education.

 

The court may grant joint physical custody, or it may grant physical custody to one parent and visitation time to the non-custodial parent. The court will usually — but not always — grant joint legal custody. Once the child custody decision is made, it is legally binding, and the custodial parent must get court permission for parent relocation.

 

Carefully Weighing Your Options

Even if the parents can agree on a child custody outcome, a judge has to agree that the settlement is in the best interests of the child. However, except in unusual circumstances, an agreement between the parents that avoids contentious litigation is generally considered to be in the child's interests.

 

Attorney Anthony Carbone will follow whatever strategy, or combination of strategies, is appropriate to protect your relationship with your children. Contact us to discuss how we can help you with your child custody concerns.