Child Custody Issues: Complex And Emotional

April 28, 2011 - PRLog -- Ketover and Associates in Garden City, Long Island, New York has built a well-known law practice based upon a keen insight and expertise in family law and child custody issues. Unfortunately, family law is a very emotional situation for most couples and families, especially when child custody issues enter the fray. That's precisely where an experienced, compassionate law firm like Ketover and Associates  can make all of the difference during this difficult period.

Ketover & Associates, LLC is thoroughly familiar with New York State laws regarding child custody and visitation. Their child custody attorneys have effectively represented clients in divorces and other family law actions that involve all forms of child custody and visitation cases. Their firm has represented clients with the following types of custody and visitation issues:

   Sole custody
   Joint custody
   Parenting plans and visitation rights
   Parenting plan modifications
   Child relocations

At Ketover & Associates, LLC, their child custody attorneys are committed to guiding the client through every step of a child custody and visitation action. They approach each case with dignity and compassion, and recognize that our responsibility is not only to our clients, but also to promote the best interests of the children involved.

The Issues: What It All Means

The Ketover Law staff of family law attorneys often point out that child custody and guardianship are legal terms which are sometimes used to describe the legal and practical relationship between a parent and his or her child, such as the right of the parent to make decisions for the child, and the parent's duty to care for the child.

Following ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in most countries, terms such as "residence" and "contact" (known as "visitation" in the United States) have superseded the concepts of "custody" and "access". Instead of a parent having "custody" of or "access" to a child, a child is now said to "reside" or have "contact" with a parent. For a discussion of the new international nomenclature, see parental responsibility.

Residence and contact issues typically arise in proceedings involving divorce (dissolution of marriage), annulment and other legal proceedings where children may be involved. In most jurisdictions the issue of which parent the child will reside with is determined in accordance with the best interests of the child standard.

Family law proceedings in New York also involves issues of residence, and contact often generates the most acrimonious disputes. While many parents cooperate when it comes to sharing their children and resort to mediation to settle a dispute, not all do. For those that engage in litigation, there seem to be few limits. Court filings quickly fill with mutual accusations by one parent against the other, including sexual, physical, and emotional abuse, brainwashing, parental alienation syndrome, sabotage, and manipulation. It is these infrequent yet difficult custody battles that become public via the media and sometimes distort the public's perceptions so that the issues appear more prevalent than they are and the court's response appear inadequate.

In some places, courts and legal professionals are beginning to use the term parenting schedule instead of custody and visitation. The new terminology eliminates the distinction between custodial and no custodial parents, and also attempts to build upon the so-called best interests of the children by crafting schedules that meet the developmental needs of the children. For example, younger children need shorter, more frequent time with parents, whereas older children and teenagers can tolerate and may demand less frequent shifts, but longer blocks of time with each parent.

These are all obviously complex issues that require the competent assistance of a professional New York family practice attorney.

Visit http://www.familylegalhelp.net for further information or call 877-703-2000.

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Are you dealing with family law issues? Are you considering filing for divorce? There are many factors to consider, many of which could be complex and devastating to all involved. No matter what kind of family law issue you are dealing with, the attorneys at Ketover & Associates, LLC are well versed and experienced in the matters of family law including, but not limited to divorce, legal separation, pre and post nuptials, child custody and child support issues.