Vancouver Visitation Attorneys
In Washington, a custody agreement is referred to as a parenting plan. The parenting plan maps out all the details of custody and visitation, including the residential schedule, decision-making authority and future dispute resolution.
Working through these agreements can be some of the most contentious parts of family law, whether that be in the context of a divorce, legal separation or paternity case. Both parents want what is best for the children, but their views on the matter are often divergent from one another.
In the context of a divorce, some of the factors that a court will consider might include:
- The relative strength, nature, and stability of the child's relationship with each parent
- The agreements of the parties, provided they were entered into knowingly and voluntarily
- Each parent's past and potential for future performance of parenting functions, including whether a parent has taken greater responsibility for performing parenting functions relating to the daily needs of the child
- The emotional needs and developmental level of the child
- The child's relationship with siblings and with other significant adults, as well as the child's involvement with his or her physical surroundings, school, or other significant activities
- The wishes of the parents and the wishes of a child who is sufficiently mature to express reasoned and independent preferences as to his or her residential schedule
- Each parent's employment schedule
In cases where parents are seeking the change or modify their existing parenting plan the case can be more difficult as the law in Washington imposes a presumption in favor of continuing the custodial continuity under the existing parenting plan.
The standards will vary depending of the precise nature of the legal proceeding so it is vital that you speak with an experienced attorney at Spencer and Sundstrom about your particular problem. We have nearly forty years experience in child custody litigation.
Helping You Through a Difficult Process
The Vancouver child custody attorneys at Spencer & Sundstrom, we understand the law surrounding child custody litigation and parenting plans. Wee take the time to fully understand your goals with regard to your children. In some cases, a parent's goals are not possible under the law. If your goals are unattainable, we will let you know upfront and explain your legal options.
It is important for divorcing couples to reach an agreement about a parenting plan on their own whenever possible. If they don't, the court will make a determination on its own. The judge's order is binding and cannot be changed without a court-approved modification, which can be difficult to secure. We have helped clients reach agreements even on the most strongly contested parenting plans, working through issues including decisions about the primary parent, visitation, decision-making authority, holiday schedules and all other issues relevant to raising children between two households.
Discuss Your Case With a Lawyer
Contact our office today to talk to one of our attorneys about your drug case. We will give you an honest assessment of your case and help you understand your legal options. You can reach us by phone at 360-356-1710 or via e-mail. For your convenience, we accept Visa and MasterCard.
