Joint Custody in Queens

Are you worried about child custody?

Are you getting a divorce? Do you have concerns over child custody? At the Law Offices of Donald Mastrodomenico, P.C., we handle over 700 divorce and family law cases every year. Because divorce and family law is all that we do, we completely understand if you are worried about divorce would impact the custody of your children.

When you engage a Queens divorce attorney from our firm, you can be confident that we are fully equipped to advocate on your behalf and represent your best interests. We do not take child custody matters lightly, and we will give your case the attention and care it deserves.

About Physical Custody

When parents split up or divorce, they must make decisions about the custody of their children. Ideally, the parents will come to an agreement and a judge will sign off on such an agreement. When the parents cannot agree, the judge will decide for them based on the best interests of the child.

There are two parts of child custody: legal custody and physical custody.

• Legal custody has to do with the right to make major decisions for your child; for example, where you child goes to school and what religion your child is raised in.
• Physical custody, also known as "residential custody" refers to where your child lives on a day-to-day basis.

Sole Physical Custody vs. Shared Physical Custody

If you have sole physical custody, it means that your child lives with you most of the time; however, your child may spend time with the other parent during visitation. Often, the parent with sole physical custody is called the "custodial parent," or the "primary caretaker."

In some cases a judge will order shared physical custody. If you have shared physical custody (joint custody), then your child will live with you and the other parent.

Your child may or may not spend equal amounts of time with you and the other parent, it depends on how close you live to the other parent, and if the judge believes an equal timeshare arrangement would be in your child's best interests.

Your child custody issue is important. Call our Queens firm!

If you are contemplating a shared custody arrangement, it is very important that negotiations with your child's other parent go well, or that you present a strong case before the judge. In either case, you need a good attorney by your side.

For quality legal representation, contact us to speak with an attorney from our firm. We gladly offer free case evaluations, and we would be more than happy to give you sound legal advice.