Before separating or divorcing, many parents wonder who will receive custody of their children and how often they will see them. The Law Office and Mediation Center of Jeannine M. Talbot, in Torrington, CT, has over 20 years of family law experience, and this seasoned child custody lawyer guides parents through resolution of child custody and visitation issues during and after a divorce or separation.   

Attorney Jeannine is here to discuss a few factors affecting child custody and visitation:

• Best Interest of the Child: To make child custody and visitation decisions, the court considers the best interest of the child. Numerous factors come into play, such as the child’s age and mental and physical condition, the physical, mental, financial, and emotional ability of the parent to care for the child, and the safety and stability of the home environment. Courts also consider whether a parent is addicted to drugs or alcohol, neglectful, or abusive.     
• Joint Custody: Parents may decide to share time with the child through joint legal custody. In these arrangements, both parents have an equal right to make decisions about the child’s welfare, such as the education, religious upbringing, and health care of the child. For practical reasons, parents often agree that the child will live with one parent, and the other parent has liberal opportunities to spend time with the child.      
• Parenting Time: When courts award child custody to one parent, they usually provide reasonable parenting access to the other. Courts rarely deny parenting access but can if it is in the child’s best interest to do so. Examples include a parent’s history of violence or sexual abuse, fear of child abduction, mental instability, drug or alcohol abuse, and the child’s wishes.  In some instances, supervised parenting access would be appropriate.

Attorney Jeannine uses her skills as an advocate and mediator to help parents reach decisions that are right for their children. You can always depend on her for wise and compassionate counsel. When you have child custody and parenting access questions, contact The Law Office and Mediation Center of Jeannine M. Talbot in Torrington, CT. Visit her website now, or call (860) 482-9004 to schedule your consultation.