Manhattan Child Custody Lawyer
Effectively Resolving Challenging Family Problems
When parents break up, who gets custody of children is often the most challenging issue to resolve. While most parents want what is best for their children, strong emotions and disagreement between spouses can turn decisions about the children into contentious legal battles. At The Levoritz Law Firm in Manhattan, our experienced attorneys help clients in gaining custody and visitation decisions that are fair to them and in the best interests of their children.
Depending upon your situation, we may be able to help you amicably negotiate a child custody and visitation plan with the other parent. But if agreement cannot be reached, going to trial may be the only way to resolve custody disagreements. Our Manhattan child custody attorney will be your staunch advocate at the negotiating table or in Family Court.
Don’t wait to get legal guidance if you are filing for custody or have been served with a summons. Get knowledgeable legal guidance from the start of your case by reaching out to our law firm right away. We have extensive experience successfully representing New York clients in custody and visitation cases. We will be by your side throughout the legal process, working toward getting you the most favorable outcome. Contact us today to arrange a consultation with an effective child custody lawyer.
Our Approach to Cases
Legal problems within families are highly stressful. When children are involved, the stress is multiplied. Our founder, Yoni Levoritz, a highly recognized family law and divorce lawyer in New York, and our entire team of accomplished attorneys understand the anxiety our clients face. We bring a holistic and communicative approach to complex child custody disputes that is intended to help reduce client stress, while paving the way for a positive legal outcome.
What this means is that we will work to get to know you, the issues involved, your family dynamics and your goals and wishes for your children and the future. Once we understand your situation, we will explain how your case may move toward resolution based on your relationship with the other parent and all the circumstances involved. When you have questions and concerns about the process, we will be there to address them. We will keep you closely informed every step of the way. You will always be treated as an individual and never as just another case number.
Clients trust our firm because our holistic approach to legal services has been proven to deliver successful resolutions.
About Our Child Custody Lawyers
Yoni founded the firm in 2005 and since that time has built a long track record of success in handling family law and matrimonial cases. The hardworking attorney always stays up to date on current decisions and case law in his practice areas in order to provide the most strategic counsel to clients. He also writes extensively about family legal issues. He and his carefully handpicked team of child custody attorneys are champions for the rights of clients who are experiencing some of the most difficult times of their lives. We work compassionately with our clients, while zealously taking on opponents at the negotiating table or in the courtroom. But while we are forceful in standing up for clients’ interests against the other side, our legal ethics and courteousness never waver when we interact with any parties involved in cases.
Learn about Our Manhattan Child Custody Attorney
Yoni founded the firm in 2005 and since that time has built a long track record of success in handling family law and matrimonial cases. The hardworking attorney always stays up to date on current decisions and case law in his practice areas in order to provide the most strategic counsel to clients. He also writes extensively about family legal issues. He and his carefully handpicked team of child custody attorneys are champions for the rights of clients who are experiencing some of the most difficult times of their lives. We work compassionately with our clients, while zealously taking on opponents at the negotiating table or in the courtroom. But while we are forceful in standing up for clients’ interests against the other side, our legal ethics and courteousness never waver when we interact with any parties involved in cases.
FULL-SERVICE CHILD CUSTODY AND FAMILY LAW FIRM
The Levoritz Law Firm provides the full spectrum of legal services in child custody cases. Whether you are seeking custody or want fair visitation terms, we are here for you. Whether you need support negotiating and preparing a parenting plan to present to the court for approval, a legal advocate in mediation, or an experienced litigator at trial, you can rely on our firm for effective guidance. If your child custody and visitation agreement is broken, we can represent you in a breach of contract or contract litigation case.
We also have child support lawyers and spousal support attorneys who fight for clients when those agreements are violated. And if a judge’s decision in a child custody matter is simply not fair to you and you don’t believe it’s in your child’s best interests, or if the other side appeals a decision, our Manhattan child custody attorney has the extensive appellate litigation experience necessary to represent you on appeal.
Understanding New York Child Custody Laws
Effective Guidance from a NY Child Custody Lawyer
Under New York child custody laws, the best interests of the child are the major determinant in child custody and visitation decisions. There are basically two types of custody: physical custody and legal custody. Physical custody describes who children live with. One parent may get sole physical custody, meaning children live with that parent more than 50 percent of the time, while the other gets visitation. In some cases, judges may award joint physical custody in which children live with each parent for equal amounts of time.
Legal custody is the authority to make major decisions regarding education, health care, religious upbringing, and other important areas of children’s lives. One parent may get sole legal custody, or it may be awarded to both parents, who must then make these decisions together.
FACTORS NEW YORK COURTS CONSIDER IN DETERMINING CUSTODY
In deciding physical and legal custody, judges in New York Family Court consider a variety of factors. Some of them include:
- The relationship of children with each parent
- Which parent has been the main caregiver
- Which parent the child spends the most time with
- The mental and physical health of both parents
- Whether domestic violence has been an issue
- The parenting and nurturing skills of both parents
- Work schedules of parents
- Plans of each parent for outside childcare
- Whether a child has special needs and, if so, the ability of each parent to meet them
- Whether there are siblings involved.
These items are just some of the elements judges may consider. They will take into account any factors they think are relevant in making custody decisions. Depending on a child’s age, they may also consider the child’s own preference in living with one parent instead of the other. In any case, what decision will result will depend on what the judge thinks is in the best interest of the child.
While judges do their best to make the right decision, they can potentially make the wrong one. The potential for the court to make a decision that could cost you custody of your children is why it is so important to get help from an experienced child custody attorney in Manhattan. When you choose our firm to represent you, we will effectively present your case for custody to the judge and stand up for your rights.
The potential for the judge to make a decision that could cost you custody of your child is why it is so important to have the help of an experienced New York child custody attorney from The Levoritz Law Firm.
CONTACT USOUR MANHATTAN CHILD CUSTODY LAWYER ANSWERS COMMON QUESTIONS
Child custody cases can be complicated and confusing. Most people have many questions about how the process works and what rights they and their children have. In the following Q&A’s we provide answers to some of the questions we commonly hear. However, these are just general answers and do not take into account the unique circumstances of individual cases.
To get specific answers based on your child custody situation, contact our Manhattan law office at (718) 942-4004 or use our online form to arrange a consultation. Once our child custody lawyer in Manhattan understands all the factors in your case, they will advise you about the path forward and what you may expect.
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Can parents make their own custody decisions?
When parents get along and agree on terms, such as in an uncontested divorce, they can make their own custody decisions. This involves preparing a parenting plan or agreement and having it approved by the court. Parenting plans contain specific schedules as to when children will be with each parent, what holidays they will spend with each parent, where they will spend birthdays and other day-to-day particulars about how time with children will be handled. When parents agree in this way, it can be far less stressful on children. Our child custody lawyers can advise you about preparing a parenting plan.
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Are mothers favored over fathers in child custody decisions?
In the past, this was often the case. But today’s laws don’t favor either parent. Only the best interests of the child are supposed to be considered under the law. However, in some situations old-school thinking may result in unfair decisions being made. Our attorney can persuasively present your case to help ensure fairness in decision-making by the court. We can also represent your interest if you believe an existing child custody order was made unfairly.
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Who receives child support in different custody situations?
Typically, the parent with sole physical custody gets child support from the non-custodial parent. When parents have joint physical custody, the parent who earns more money may be ordered to pay child support to the lower-earning parent. For this purpose, the higher-earning parent is considered the non-custodial parent.
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If parents were never married, how does the father ask the court for custody or visitation?
If an unmarried father wants custody or visitation, they must establish paternity. If both parties agree about paternity, they can sign a Voluntary Establishment of Paternity form. If there is conflict about paternity, the father can petition the court to have a DNA test taken. The father, mother and child will all be tested to determine paternity. Once paternity is proven, fathers can file petitions with the court asking for custody or visitation.
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What is the process for a child custody proceeding?
To start the process of getting custody or visitation, a petition is filed in Family Court. There are five family courts in New York City, including in lower Manhattan, the Bronx, downtown Brooklyn, Jamaica/Queens, and Staten Island. Once the petition is filed, the other parent is served with a summons informing them that custody or visitation is being sought. Custody may then be worked out through a negotiated agreement that is then approved by the court. Or if an agreement cannot be reached, the case may go to mediation for another attempt at resolving it before trial. If that is unsuccessful, the court will hear both sides and determine custody.
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What should I do if I don’t think my children are safe with their other parent?
If you believe your child is in immediate danger, you should call 911. If the danger isn’t immediate, but you don’t believe your child or children are generally safe with the other parent, you will have to prove your suspicions to the court and have your custody and visitation order changed. Sometimes courts require that parents with visitation rights be supervised by another adult during visits with their children.
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How can I have a custody or visitation order changed?
If your circumstances or those of the other parent have changed, you can file a modification order with the court that issued the original order. In modifying orders, the court will determine whether it’s in a child’s best interests to do so. They may approve or disapprove the modification, depending on the circumstances. Reasons parents may ask for modifications to custody or visitation orders include moves out of state, changing financial situations, health problems, domestic violence, and other issues. In any case, you will have to show evidence that proves you need a modification.
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What happens if I have primary custody and I need to move to another state?
You will need to go back to court to have the relocation approved. If the noncustodial parent protests the move, you could wind up in another prolonged legal dispute regarding the relocation. If you need to move far from the noncustodial parent and suspect the move could be contested, you should get the assistance of a skilled and zealous Manhattan child custody lawyer from our firm.
Every child custody dispute has unique issues and sensitivities. Once we learn about your case, we will advocate for you to help ensure a fair custody arrangement that is in your children’s best interests.
Children are the most precious part of many parents’ lives. Not getting custody of them, or not being able to spend enough time with them, can be very upsetting to even think about. Unfortunately, divorce, separation and other circumstances may make losing custody a very real possibility. When you select our firm to represent you, our Manhattan-based child custody lawyer will bring extensive resources to bear in your case toward getting you a favorable outcome that is in the best interests of your children.
Give yourself a strong chance of gaining custody or getting valuable visitation time with your children by calling us today to arrange a consultation. Call (718) 942-4004 to learn how our law firm can help you.
Reach Out to Our New York Child Custody Lawyer Today
We Will Fight for Your Rights during Challenging Times
KNOWLEDGEABLE
As a law firm that is focused in practicing family and matrimonial law, we have handled numerous cases related to child custody and related areas. Through our experience, we have gained in-depth insight into all the nuances and intricacies of New York’s child custody laws. We also know the judges and other legal professionals who practice in the city’s family courts. This knowledge of the law and the people involved with it helps inform us about how cases may progress and aids us in putting appropriate strategies in place that can give our clients the advantage in child custody proceedings.
COMPASSIONATE
Child custody conflicts require sensitive and compassionate handling. Emotions run high. When you’re embroiled in a proceeding that can impact the bonds you have with your children, it’s normal to feel anxious and even frightened about what the future may hold. Sometimes just having someone listen to your fears can help to ease your anxiety.
Our understanding Manhattan child custody lawyer will carefully listen to you, answer your questions, and do everything in their power toward getting you a satisfactory result that supports your relationship with your children now and into the future. Don’t take chances with the important parent-child bond. Get powerful legal help today.
ACCOMPLISHED
When your life with your children is threatened, don’t settle for anything less than experienced legal representation. Our founder is a highly-lauded New York child custody attorney with an impressive record of securing successful custody and visitation decisions for clients. He is a strong advocate for the rights of both mothers and fathers and can always be counted on to stand up for yours.
The wrong child custody decision can negatively affect your relationship with your children forever. Get highly experienced legal help today by reaching out to The Levoritz Law Firm for assistance.