Expert Child Custody Representation for Rockland County Parents
The most important thing an attorney can do is communicate effectively with their client. It doesn’t matter if an attorney is able to obtain what he or she deems to be a “good deal” if it’s not what the client wants or will accept. It’s important that the attorney knows what the client wants and what the client will accept. It is important for the attorney to explain the possibility of the client receiving the expected outcome and if time permits, any actions that will help the client in their endeavor. Sometimes it’s easy. Small things like don’t move in with a significant other right away because it could cause instability in the child’s life. Sometimes it’s harder. The child’s age determines how much of a say the child would have in any decision regarding where that child resides.
Why Custody Matters Most in Rockland County Family Law
Custody is one of the most contentious issues in Matrimonial Cases. Often custody battles turn into long term arguments between families where each person’s family tries prove their love to the children of the broken marriage. This is not good for the children. The best outcome is both parents having meaningful relations and properly influencing their children’s emotional, educational and spiritual growth. Unfortunately, this isn’t always possible. People come with their own set of issues and points of objectivity.
Types of Child Custody in New York
Physical Custody
Physical custody is the parent that physically has the child(ren) reside with them. Stability is an important factor for children so usually one (1) parent has physical custody. Not all the time, some parents have been able to successfully have joint physical custody but it’s not the norm even though it must be done on consent of both parties.
Legal Custody
Legal custody is the parent that makes the decisions relating to the child. Many parents want joint custody. This is usually done with one parent having physical custody and both parents having joint legal custody. When this is the outcome, parents have to talk to one and other to decide the child’s activities, healthcare including Dr. visits and to which Dr. This is why Judges cannot order joint custody. It requires the parents to cooperate with one and other.
Common Custody Arrangements We Negotiate
Joint Legal Custody with Tie-Breaker
Many attorneys insert provisions regardless of the custody arrangement to preserve their clients’ rights. On many occasions, parties will have joint legal custody with the parent that has physical custody also having final decision-making authority so that parents do not argue every trivial detail.
Healthcare Provider Restrictions
It’s also common for a stipulation to be inserted that the custodial party cannot use healthcare providers that are outside of the network.
Relocation Provisions
Many custodial parents want to move, maybe away from the marital home. Attorneys often insert stipulations allowing the parent to move one (1) county away. Often, the moving party agrees to do the driving for drop off and pick up as that parent was the one who moved. Non-custodial parents have been known to allow a move such as this but insert a clause that the court that made the order shall retain jurisdiction instead of allowing jurisdiction to move to the new county once the custodial parent has lived in the new county for six (6) months. This allows the parties to avoid a relocation hearing while still giving the parties a large say in their future.
Our Strategic Approach to Custody Cases
Settlement First Strategy
My job is, first see if there is a possibility to settle any parts of this matter without having the Court hear evidence. I need to go into this negotiation already knowing what my client is willing to accept. Should there be a possibility to settle, then try to settle the matter without telling the other side the least amount of anything your client is willing to accept.
Trial Preparation When Needed
If not, then I have to prep my client and start preparing for trial. It’s my job to know what the Court wants to see in the custodial parent and get my client to control their actions accordingly and to develop the testimony of witnesses that can attest to my clients ability to put the needs of the children before his/her own and to show that my client would be better at fostering a meaningful relationship between the child(ren) and the non-custodial parent than the other parent.
The Best Interest of the Child Standard
The standard employed by the Family Court is the Best Interest of the Child. This sounds simple enough but people are subjective. It’s for your lawyer to know how a litigant’s actions are going to be viewed by the Court and to instruct a litigant on whatever behavior to avoid.
Behaviors That Harm Custody Cases
Some bad behavior, like substance abuse or violence are pretty straight forward. Others, like parental alienation by a significant other of a non-custodial parent could be harder for a person to see or control.
How We Help You Avoid Pitfalls
A lawyer with the proper experience, like me, will be able to help you in first seeing this and then helping you talk to the new spouse to stop such behavior but not start a new conflict with the significant other.
Why Choose Attorney Paul Silk Cooper for Custody
With over 28 years of experience in Rockland County Family Court, I specialize in:
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Effective Client Communication: Understanding YOUR goals from day one
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Strategic Settlement Negotiations: Avoiding costly trials when possible
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Powerful Trial Preparation: Ready to fight when settlement fails
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Child-Focused Advocacy: Always prioritizing the Best Interest of the Child
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Local Court Expertise: Knowing every Rockland County judge’s expectations
Your trusted New City child custody lawyer serving all of Rockland County.
Start Protecting Your Parental Rights Today
Don’t let a custody battle destroy your relationship with your children. Contact Attorney Paul Silk Cooper today for a confidential consultation. With 28+ years securing favorable custody outcomes in Rockland County, I’ll communicate clearly, fight strategically, and protect what matters most – YOUR children.
Call now to discuss your custody goals and get the representation you deserve.
