Hackensack Child Visitation Lawyer

Child Visitation

Child custody disputes are notoriously tough to settle when a marriage includes children.

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It’s not a good idea to try to handle the legal ramifications of a child custody battle on your own. A “simple” divorce case may become a “custody struggle,” complete with psychologists, guardian ad items to recommend a neutral assessment of what is in the best interest of the children instead of the parents, depending on the circumstances.

There are many parties with different interests at stake in a divorce. Our New Jersey child visitation attorney represents anyone involved in a divorce or custody matter. Our attorneys support mothers’, fathers’, and grandparents’ rights in New Jersey and New York.

Why Choose Us?

Divorce and family law concerns can be complex, and at Men’s & Fathers’ Rights Divorce Lawyers by Schultz & Associates, LLC, we’re here to help. Attempting to manage legal matters on your own can be a daunting and stressful experience. Having the right child visitation attorney can make a key difference for your child custody case. Our attorneys have a deep passion for helping people, which shows how well they do their job for our clients. Success stories are abundant for the attorneys at Men’s & Fathers’ Rights Divorce Lawyers by Schultz & Associates, LLC, since we strive to serve our customers with empathy, insight, and understanding. Throughout the process, we do all in our power to make our clients feel at ease and address any concerns they may have. Among the most prestigious honors, we’ve received are:

• Carrie S. Schultz was rated Super Lawyer for 5 years running.
• Lawyers of Distinction Award
• 2022 Peer Rated for High Professional Achievement
• Fastest growing law firm in the United States: 2021 Honoree
• Top 10 Ranking in 2014
• National Association of Distinguished Council (NADC)

To best serve our clients, our attorneys work together as a team, pooling their unique perspectives and expertise to find solutions that work for each individual case. Our mission as a law firm is to offer the best service, care, direction, communication, and legal counsel for their individual needs.

How Can We Help?

The Hackensack child visitation lawyers at Men’s & Fathers’ Rights Divorce Lawyers by Schultz & Associates, LLC, are here to help you through every step of the custody process from the perspective of men’s and fathers’ rights. In particular, our legal team has extensive expertise in representing clients in child custody cases and creating, negotiating, and defending child custody arrangements. Child custody matters can be mentally exhausting, but our attorneys are dedicated to assisting clients in finding custodial arrangements that work for everyone involved. Our goal is to reach a fair and constructive resolution with as little tension and hostility as possible between the parents. Child custody and visitation arrangements can often be worked out amicably in the early stages of a divorce. Our attorneys are skilled negotiators who want to keep the working relationship between the parties in a divorce intact. Custody and other issues related to a divorce are commonly resolved through mediation and arbitration, two forms of alternative dispute resolution, although our attorneys are so skilled, we can often negotiate on our own without having to add another person into the mix to help. On rare occasions, it may be necessary to resort to legal action to resolve custody issues fairly. We have a motivated team of lawyers who are ready to fight for your custody rights in any New Jersey family court.

Guide to New Jersey Child Custody Laws and Procedures

Judges in our family courts have broad authority to craft custody orders that they believe are in the child’s “best interests.” First, New Jersey’s courts must make custody decisions without any bias toward either the mother or the father. In other words, neither parent has an inherent advantage in the custody dispute. Each family is different, and custody decisions should be made accordingly, as is the case with most family law disputes. Before making a final custody determination under New Jersey law, the court needs to consider several things. NJSA 9:2-4(c) lays out what are usually referred to as the “best interest’s factors,” including the following:

• How well a set of parents can communicate, collaborate, and reach a consensus on essential parenting decisions
• The parent’s willingness to give up custody and any documented instances of parental refusal (barring cases of proven abuse)
• How the child gets along with his or her family
• The existence of a history of domestic abuse
• Protection against physical harm by the other parent for both the child and one parent
• To the extent that the child is mature enough to make an educated decision
• The needs of the child
• The degree to which the child’s family life provides stability
• Whether or not a child’s education is stable and of high quality
• The suitability of the parents (a parent cannot be deemed unsuitable unless their behavior “substantially adversely affects” the child)
• The proximity to both sets of parents’ homes
• The quantity and quality of parental involvement before and after the breakup
• The parent’s work schedule and how it could interfere with caretaking duties
• The children, how many, and how old they are.

Our New Jersey child custody lawyers work with you to ensure that you have an opportunity to continue a relationship with your children, regardless of whether you were ever married to the other parent. It takes compassionate and experienced lawyers like ours at Men’s & Fathers’ Rights Divorce Lawyers by Schultz & Associates, LLC, to successfully come to a resolution that will provide the appropriate visitation and parenting time according to your specific situation.

Crafting Visitation and Parenting Schedules to Suit Your Specific Situation

At Men’s & Fathers’ Rights Divorce Lawyers by Schultz & Associates, LLC, our New Jersey child custody lawyer, who are also experienced divorce lawyer in New Jersey, know that visitation and parenting time arrangements are not “one size fits all” propositions. One party may have more flexibility with work schedules, while another may have expertise that is essential to the child’s well-being. Our New Jersey child custody lawyers work with families in northern New Jersey, central New Jersey, and the New York metro area to create workable solutions that meet the children’s needs.

What if One Parent Wants to Move Away?

We also have extensive experience where one parent wishes to move out of state or to a distant area within the state with the children, significantly impacting the other parent’s visitation with the children. Please get in touch with us at (201) 880-9770 if you have this type of child custody situation or need to oppose one parent who is seeking to relocate with the children. Our New Jersey child custody lawyers can help.

Parental and Grandparent Rights in New Jersey

Father’s Rights In New Jersey

It is usual to think that the mother is entitled to custody no matter what. And, hate to say it, but you would be incorrect. Some mothers feel that the child’s best interests are truly served through limited contact with the father. Unless there is a very particular reason that impacts the best interest of the child, we disagree. However, every family dynamic is different, and nothing is absolute when discussing or dealing with custody. You will likely still need to fight to ensure your child remains an integral part of your life. At Men’s & Fathers’ Rights Divorce Lawyers by Schultz & Associates, LLC, our New Jersey child custody lawyers advocate on your behalf in a divorce or family law matter.

Father’s Rights In New Jersey

New Jersey child visitation laws are not biased regarding gender. While courts look for the optimal parenting plan for the child irrespective of each parent’s sex, you may feel that more priority and emphasis is given to one parent in New Jersey in a divorce or family law matter. You may think that a checkered background or a manipulative spouse has the right to stand in your way of seeing your child, which is not necessarily true, depending upon the circumstances. That is why you need an attorney with experience in New Jersey fathers’ rights. Our New Jersey child custody lawyers will discuss with you the concerns and the role you intend to play in your children’s future so that we can help you assert the appropriate visitation and your legal rights to maintain a relationship with your children.

Grandparent’s Rights In New Jersey

Since divorce involves grandparents as well as parents, we encourage their continued relationship with the children. We work to protect grandparents’ rights in New Jersey by creating visitation and parenting time arrangements to fit with the ongoing child custody arrangement instituted by the parents and to ensure grandparents are able to visit their grandchildren. Our New Jersey child custody attorneys will also discuss the grandparents’ rights statute and all applicable laws to fully explain your legal options as a grandparent.

Challenges Associated with Custody and Custody Decisions

Unfortunately, disagreements between parents following a custody decision are common. At times, the “parent of primary residence” (the custodial parent) makes decisions that the “parent of alternate residence” (the non-custodial parent) disagrees with. Parents should understand that the court does not have jurisdiction over their child’s daily activities. The minor’s custodial parents are typically entrusted with making day-to-day choices on the child’s behalf. However, in the event of major difficulties, like the child’s health, education, or general welfare, they are typically compelled to confer with the non-custodial parent. If the parents are unable to settle their differences, they can go back to court to have the matter decided. Keep in mind that the “best interests of the child” test still applies; therefore, courts will only revise post-divorce (or “post-judgment”) custody and parenting time orders if the child’s situation has changed in a significant way.

How Drug and Alcohol Use Can Affect Parenting Time

Clients often ask how another parent’s alcohol or drug use can affect their parenting time.

• One parent’s involvement with drugs and/or alcohol can significantly limit their access to the children.
• Current and future discussions – and adjustments in parenting or visitation schedules – will be impacted by one parent’s involvement in drugs and/or alcohol.
• The children’s safety is the first consideration, so the alcohol/drug-involved parent must seek the needed help.

Does your child’s other parent have a problem with drugs or alcohol? If so, contact or call our team at (201) 880-9770 and let us help you.

What to Do if the Non-Custodial Parent is Always Late with Visitation

Learn Your Visitation Agreement Rights in New Jersey

As experienced New Jersey child custody attorneys, we often have parents ask what they can do if their child’s other parent is always late arriving at and ending parenting time.

• When the non-custodial parent is consistently late in picking up or dropping off the children, it’s important to discover the underlying reasons.
• If the current custodial arrangement doesn’t work for the family, it may need to be revised. It’s important that the plan be workable for everyone involved.
• At the end of the day, the children are the ones who suffer when a parent is late or misses scheduled visitation.

Get in Touch with a Skilled Child Visitation Attorney

Respecting the needs of your child is a priority, as is reaching an agreement that is beneficial and healthy for all parties. Call our experienced New Jersey child custody lawyers representing clients in New Jersey and New York at Men’s & Fathers’ Rights Divorce Lawyers by Schultz & Associates, LLC at (201) 880-9770 or contact us online to find out how we can help you.

ATTORNEY BIO

Carrie S. Schultz, Esq.

Thank you for visiting our site. We realize that if you are reading this, you or someone you know is having marital or family difficulties. We truly understand how unsettling that can be for all involved. I personally want to invite you to explore the website which contains a lot of informational and educational items which I hope is of benefit to you. I also welcome you to contact us to schedule a case evaluation to discuss your matter in greater detail. Our firm philosophy is to always remain committed to providing our clients with the best service, care, guidance, communication, and legal advice possible for your particular situation. We take seriously you entrusting us with your legal matter. Happy researching!