La Porte Child Custody Attorneys

At Rodriguez Law Firm, Inc., our founding attorneys established our firm in La Porte to provide quality legal services to our local communities in northwestern Indiana. Whether you and your spouse are divorcing and child custody and support issues are prominent within your divorce, or you need to establish paternity to gain visitation or child support, we can provide responsive legal guidance, support and assistance.

If you face child custody challenges in La Porte or northwestern Indiana, contact NAPNAME, today. Call NAPNUMBER or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation with an experienced child custody attorney.

Types Of Custody In Indiana

Indiana recognizes several types of custody arrangements. The state currently offers the following options for families:

• Legal custody: Gives you the power to make important decisions about your child’s education, healthcare, religion and activities.
• Physical custody: Determines where your child lives and who takes care of them each day.
• Sole custody: Gives one parent full decision-making power and physical care.
• Joint custody: Allows both parents to share responsibilities under the assumption that sharing legal custody benefits the child unless evidence proves otherwise (Indiana Code 31-17-2-13).
• Third-party custody: Allows grandparents or relatives to ask the court for custody when neither parent can provide a safe home (Indiana Code 31-17-2-8.1).

Common Challenges In Child Custody Cases

Child custody disputes often involve disagreements over holiday schedules, school-related decisions and relocation. Parents frequently clash over major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, which school the child attends, or whether the child should attend private or public school.

Relocation cases present particularly complex challenges. Under Indiana Code 31-17-2.2, if a custodial parent wants to move more than 100 miles from the other parent or out of state, they must provide written notice and get court approval. The court evaluates whether the move serves the child’s best interests by considering the reason for relocation, quality of life improvements, the feasibility of maintaining the parent-child relationship and the child’s wishes if mature enough to express a preference.

When Divorce Or Separation Involves Children

Every case is different, but when a case involves your child at the forefront, emotions and tensions can run high. We will provide calm and responsive guidance and assistance for any legal challenge that involves children, including:

• An action to establish paternity
• Establishing child custody
• Negotiating a parenting time schedule
• Establishing child support obligations
• Obtaining or opposing child support modifications

Whenever the court is deciding legal issues relating to a child as part of a divorce or paternity action, the court will consider what is in the best interests of the child. In the state of Indiana, typically one parent is granted primary physical custody.

Child Custody Modifications In Indiana

Indiana law allows parents to modify custody orders when circumstances significantly affect the child’s welfare. Under Indiana Code 31-17-2-21, you can request a modification if you demonstrate a substantial change in circumstances. Common reasons include a parent’s relocation, changes in work schedules, safety concerns or the child’s changing needs. You must prove that circumstances have changed substantially since the original order and that modification serves the child’s best interests.

Child Custody Enforcement In Indiana

When a parent violates a custody order by withholding parenting time or refusing to return the child, Indiana law provides enforcement remedies. Under Indiana Code 31-17-4, you can file a petition for contempt if the other parent willfully disobeys the custody order. The court can impose sanctions, modify custody or order makeup parenting time. Our firm acts quickly to enforce your rights and protect your relationship with your child.

Crafting A Visitation Or Parenting Time Schedule

When crafting a visitation or parenting time schedule, the guidelines assume that it is usually in a child’s best interest to have frequent contact and interactions with both parents. To determine parenting time, the court will consider several factors, including the age and gender of the child, how well the child handles change between the respective households, how much the parents have each been involved in the child’s life and how well the parents can handle co-parenting.

Schedule A Free Consultation With A Child Custody Lawyer

To schedule a free case consultation and assessment, contact our offices by sending us an email through our contact form or calling our offices at 219-444-4322. We look forward to answering your questions and telling you more about how we can help you with child custody and child support in your case.