If you require assistance in maintaining custody of your child, please read on, then contact an experienced Suffolk County child custody attorney to learn the dos and don’ts of child custody in New York.
What should you do in a child custody case in New York?
Judges in the Empire State will factor in the child’s age, gender, characteristics and background as they decide on custody. The judge will want to ensure that the child will be safe from any possible harm and the parent has the ability to meet the needs of the child. That said, you should do everything to prove you are a fit parent by New York standards. You must show that you will be able to feed, clothe and shelter the child as well as prevent any undue stress or pain to him or her. Nobody is perfect, but you must demonstrate that you place the child’s best interests above and before your own.
What should you not do in a child custody case in New York?
Simply put, you should not do anything that would lead the court to deem you an unfit parent. The list of things that will get you deemed unfit is long and varied, but the following are some of the most common:
- Engaging in criminal behavior, especially in the presence of children
- Using illegal drugs, especially in the presence of children
- Abusing your child or significant other
- Having an unsafe living environment
- Withholding the child from his or her other legal parent, siblings or extended family
- Disrupting or discontinuing the child’s education or community life
- Neglecting the child’s daily physical, emotional, developmental, educational and special needs
- Creating conflict, and/or inability to cooperate with the other parent
A host of other factors will play into the judge’s decision. To be fully apprised of the most likely considerations, you should reach out to a skilled Suffolk County, NY family law attorney to discuss your next steps.
How can a Suffolk County, NY family law attorney help you?
When taken out of their proper context, any actions might seem like those of an unfit parent, but the reality is often much more complicated. A qualified legal professional will keep you apprised of your rights and responsibilities as well as provide guidance through this daunting process. These cases have a tendency to languish. Do not allow yours to be one of them. Give us a call today.
CONTACT OUR FIRM
Matters of divorce and family law should be navigated with the guidance of an experienced attorney. If you need strong legal representation regarding matters of divorce, family law, and estate law, contact the Law Offices of Susan A. Kassel, P.C. to schedule a consultation today.
