Child custody is a legal issue that arises from divorce, annulment or any sort of legal actions in which a child gets involved directly. In legal parlance, child custody refers to the parental guardianship or legal relationship between a parent and his child. Today, the terms 'custody' or 'visitation' are now used interchangeably with 'residence' and 'contact'.
If a couple is involved in a custody dispute, and they are unable to agree upon its terms, the court will have to make a custody determination for them. The court's decision will be based upon the guidelines for child custody under Washington State family law. These guidelines vary from state to state considerably, and in Washington are based largely on the best interests of the child. The law of child custody is complex, due largely to the fact that lawmakers recognize the difficulty of subjecting families, which are always unique, to a rigid unyielding law. Thus, you should discuss the child custody evaluation process with a Seattle family law attorney. Each MI Seattle family law attorney is thoroughly familiar with Washington State family law regarding parenting and custody. Again, each McKinley Irvin family law attorney reviews each child custody case with their clients carefully and systematically. Each MI Seattle family law attorney will explain to you the strengths and weaknesses of the child custody cases before they suggest how to move forward.
In some cases, the court will order a parenting evaluation to help make its decision. Generally, a child custody evaluation involves a number of consultations between the parents, children, and other significant persons in the child's life. The custodial attorneys at McKinley Irvin are highly experienced with such evaluations. Each professional Seattle family law attorney at MI reviews the details of the investigation and determines what will be an issue to the court. In some circumstances, a McKinley Irvin Seattle family law attorney will also procure an alternative child custody evaluation, if needed.
The child custody and Seattle family law attorneys at McKinley Irvin have effectively represented hundreds of clients in divorce and custody cases. The custodial lawyers of this Seattle family law attorney firm understand highly emotional custodial cases. It is heart wrenching to have your child taken away from you in a child custody case. We will do everything possible to make sure that this doesn't happen to you, while seeking the best interests of the child.
We believe there are no better child custody lawyers than the Seattle family law attorney at McKinley Irvin. We combine experience, successful litigation records, and a personalized touch to an emotionally sensitive issue to each and every client's case.
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