Separation is painful and challenging for couples, especially when children are involved. Family lawyers with years of experience in the field can help couples navigate issues about children protection. Best family lawyers can handle both complicated and simple cases involving children’s separation.
Parents will get legal advice about reaching an agreement on the child’s living arrangements, or they can refer couples to community-based organisations if there are more issues to be resolved before formalising the agreements.
How can a family lawyer help with child issues?
First, you will be taken through a free 30-minute consultation for all children’s issues. The best child custody lawyers in Adelaide can help you with;
- Parenting plans.
- Parents orders.
- Child support.
- Relocation, recovery, and location orders.
If custody issues cannot be resolved through meditation, the last option is the court. Court settlement can be expensive and time-consuming.
Parenting orders
Children’s issues are handled by the Federal Circuit Court of Australia and the Family Court of Australia. Therefore, the matter of court settlement will be who lives with the child and who spends time with the child. Adelaide’s best child lawyers will focus on the child’s best interest, and children’s needs are placed above anything else.
Even though one parent may consider themselves to be more integral in caring for the child, they need to consider that;
- Children have the right to have meaningful and long-lasting relationships with both parents.
- Each parent should encourage the relationship between the other parent and the child.
These considerations also come into play when applying for a parenting order. While children should benefit from the ongoing relationship with both parents, they need to be protected against psychological or physical harm to achieve their full potential.
At the time of separation, many parents believe they deserve shared custody of the child in the relationship. Before shared care is allowed, the best child custody lawyer in Adelaide will research the parents to determine whether they have proper communication. Parent’s communication will highlight whether they share the same ideologies concerning what is best for the children and help each other care for the child.
In the likelihood of conflict or personal issues that will not be solved on time, then the agreement on shared care is likely to reach a dead end.
Mediation
When both parties reach an agreement, family lawyers will formalise it, proceed with the parenting order, and present documentation for financial agreement and property settlement.
When parties do not agree on whom the child will live with, or if one party blocks the other from accessing the children, there needs to be a meditation process.
If the meditation process bears no fruits or one parent does not attend the meeting, the matter will proceed to the courts. The Best child custody lawyer in Adelaide will advise what you need to do in a meditation process and what the court will do.
Presenting and protecting children’s interest in the court
When the matter cannot be resolved through mediation, you must go to court. Adelaide's best child lawyers will advocate for what is best for you. Court proceedings involving children are daunting and can drain you emotionally, but family lawyers are compassionate and readily accessible. You will be led through the process and stay up-to-date with all developments.
