Massachusetts Child Custody Attorneys
Legal Help Arriving at Custody Decisions and Parenting Plans in Massachusetts
One of the biggest changes we've seen in Massachusetts family law over the years has been the shift away from sole custody and visitation to shared custody and parenting time. Parents now share parenting responsibilities.
One of the biggest changes we've seen in Massachusetts family law over the years has been the shift away from sole custody and visitation to shared custody and parenting time. Parents now share parenting responsibilities.
Of course, this does not mean that no parent is ever awarded sole custody. There are situations in which shared custody would be demonstrably bad for the child or unworkable for the parents (for example, if the parents live in different states). What it does mean is that in a majority of cases, Massachusetts parents involved in a child custody case will need to look at coparenting .
Helping Parents Arrive at Fair, Workable Parenting Plans
We at the Fall River child custody attorneys at the law offices of Driscoll Sanford Family Law have been helping parents arrive at workable child custody agreements and child support orders for more than 50 years combined experience. We have extensive experience negotiating initial parenting plans, as well as taking existing parenting plans back to court when parents find they are no longer working well.
It's important that the initial parenting plan include enough detail to guide parents in day-to-day matters involving the shared parenting of their child. When such details are left out, it leaves room for conflict or costly returns to court. We can help you consider all of the issues that may arise as your child grows to adulthood, such as:
- With whom the child will live and when?
- How school vacation days will be handled?
- How the child will be educated (especially if religious training is important to a parent)?
- How summer programs, after-school activities, hobbies and trips will be paid for?
- How conflicts over the child's activities and schedule will be resolved?
- How often (or if) the child will see his or her grandparents, aunts and uncles and other extended family?
Are You Having Problems With Custody?
Massachusetts family law judges do not like to modify parenting plans and will often refuse to do so until some time has passed. But when there are significant problems, you can take your original parenting plan back to court.
We often hear from mothers that fathers are not reliable about picking the child up or dropping them off at the agreed upon time, or that the father is "using" the child against them.
We often hear from fathers that the mother of their child will not give them access to their child, although they have shared parenting time. Sometimes this is in retaliation for back child support that is owed. Sometimes it is simply that the mother prefers her schedule to his. Father's do have rights and we work to protect those rights. Regardless of payment of child support, you cannot be prevented from seeing your child. We can help you enforce your rights as a father.
If a parent is willfully violating an agreement, the violating parent can be held in contempt of a court order. We can help you take your case back to court to get the original order enforced.
However, if you feel that the other parent is not intentionally violating the order, you may want to try child custody mediation to work out a new arrangement that can then be taken to the court when asking for a modification of the existing parenting plan. Mediation can save both time and money.
Contact Massachusetts Custody Lawyer Wilfred C. Driscoll, Jr.
You can have confidence that when you work with us, your child custody case will be handled in a cost-effective and professional manner. Call (508) 672-8718 or email the Driscoll Sanford Family Law. We offer payment plans and flat-fee pricing for some legal matters.
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