A divorce can be a painful ordeal for all involved. When a child is involved in a divorce, it can make an already emotional time too much to endure. New Jersey courts have the child’s best interests in mind at all times and when a case goes to court, the judge must first consider what’s best for the child. Regardless of the parenting structure, the court will address the home life of the child during the course of the case. New Jersey courts believe that a divorce should disrupt a child’s life as little as possible and any positive relationships should continue. According to the state, noncustodial parents, grandparents and other siblings deserve to be a part of the life of the child and may be entitled to visitation rights. At Paris P. Eliades Law Firm, LLC, we understand the importance of positive familial relationships and work to protect them in the face of emotional court battles. Contact Paris P. Eliades Law Firm, LLC for a consultation today.
Sole legal custody complicates child visitation
Normally, parents have some type of joint custody and visitation structure that serves the interests of the child and continues the positive familial relationships the child has come to know. Unfortunately, there are times when a parent may not be able to care for their child or the court deems them unfit to be a guardian. In those cases, the custodial parent may be awarded sole legal custody leaving the other parent with limited rights. As New Jersey courts must act in the best interest of the child, this is sometimes reality for some families. Even though one parent has sole legal custody, New Jersey believes that the other parent is entitled to visitation rights, whether the visits are supervised or unsupervised.
Visitation order
New Jersey believes that the child’s best interests are met when positive relationships continue through a divorce and beyond. A divorce should work to disrupt a child’s life as little as possible. In circumstances where a noncustodial parent, siblings, and grandparents want access to the child, there are laws in place to assist these people with gaining said access. An application for visitation can be drafted and brought to the court. If the application is approved, the court will pass down an order to be followed by all parties.  If you need a law firm to draft an application for visitation, contact Paris P. Eliades Law Firm, LLC today.
Mediation and child visitation
In some cases, family members can work together to avoid the legal costs of fighting over child visitation. In the best circumstances, interested parties may be able to use mediation to agree to terms. Even in cases of sole legal custody, the custodial parent might understand the importance of the parental relationship and offer the opportunity for the other to prove their ability to parent over time. In these cases, some families are able to put emotions aside and use mediation to come to the best conclusion for the family, and most importantly, the child.
Call a Sussex County attorney committed to positive familial relationships
At Paris P. Eliades Law Firm, LLC, we understand the importance of a continuing, positive, and fruitful parental relationship. We hope to assist families through troubling times and do what is in the best interests of our clients and their children. If you need legal advice, documents drafted, or an effective mediation practice, Paris P. Eliades Law Firm, LLC is here to serve. Contact us today for a consultation.