Joint Custody

Child custody is often one of the most misunderstood issues in divorce. Parents often believe that relinquishing custody of a child means giving up parenting rights. It does not. In many cases, joint custody may be most practical for legal matters and making decisions about school, religious upbringing and social activities, but it is simply not realistic to expect a young child to move back and forth between the parents’ primary residences. It is often more practical to seek joint legal custody, therefore, while leaving primary physical custody in the hands of one parent.

In New York, family law attorneys expect joint custody to be the norm and default to a joint custody ruling if both parents show themselves to be fit and willing to parent the child appropriately. But joint custody isn’t right in every situation.

Custody is an emotional issue in many divorce cases. Get the facts about joint custody and whether it is the best option for your family. I am Saugerties, New York, divorce and child custody attorney Jonathan D. Katz. For more than 25 years, my law firm has been representing clients involved in custody issues in Orange County, Dutchess County and communities throughout the Hudson Valley and the Catskills region. I know what your local judge will expect regarding what is best for your child. In most cases, I can help resolve your toughest joint custody support issues without the need for emotional and costly litigation.

I have experience in all areas of New York child custody law, including:

• Joint custody and whether it is the right option for your family

• Joint legal custody, giving both parents an equal right to make legal decisions about the child’s upbringing and welfare

• Joint physical custody, splitting the child’s living arrangements equally between both parents

• Sole custody, giving legal and physical custody to one parent, while ensuring parenting time is made available to the non-custodial parent

• Termination of parental rights, stripping one parent of any authority or visitation rights of the child

• Relocation petition for a parent with physical and legal custody to relocate the child to another community, including international and out-of-state relocation. I represent clients on both sides of the relocation issue

From my offices in Saugerties, I represent clients in communities throughout Orange County, the Hudson Valley and the Catskill region. Contact me to arrange an consultation.