Knowing Your Rights is Half the Battle!
Issues regarding children – custody and parenting time can be some of the most contentious elements of a divorce or paternity case. These issues can continue to be litigated long after the divorce or other underlying petition has been decided. Knowing your rights and options can help to make difficult decisions easier.
Matthew Brimley has extensive knowledge in the areas of custody and parenting time. Mr. Brimley and his skilled staff have assisted numerous clients with their child custody and parenting time related issues. If you’re looking for a child custody lawyer, call the office today to schedule a consultation to learn how Mr. Brimley can assist you!
Custody and Parenting Time
There are no hard and fast rules for determining custody and parenting time. Utah courts are given a set of statutes, which is the law or the rules to follow. The statutes are there as a guideline for the courts to follow and ultimately make a decision based upon what is known as the “best interest of the child” standard. Utah favors both parents being involved in all nonemergency legal decisions involving a child. Additionally, it is the public policy of the state of Utah that a child have substantial, frequent, meaningful and continuing parenting time with both parents.
Of course there are several additional factors to consider when making a determination regarding legal decision-making and parenting time. If either parent has a history of drug or alcohol abuse or domestic violence there may be restrictions placed on their access to the child(ren). If a parent does not have adequate living conditions or appropriate transportation or a car seat, that too may be taken into consideration. A parent’s roommates, friends, and relatives may also be considered depending on the amount of contact they have with the child(ren). Both parents’ behaviors and willingness to allow the other parent access to the child will be taken into consideration. If there are mental health concerns or stability issues, those issues will be addressed by the court.
The focus is always on the best interest on the child. The court does not want to place a child into a potentially dangerous or harmful environment. At the same time, the court does not want to risk depriving a child of a relationship with a parent because the parents simply cannot get along.
Contact an Attorney with the Knowledge and Experience to Get it Done
Mr. Brimley has years of experience working with local courts on issues related to child custody and parenting time. He has the knowledge and expertise to advise a concerned parent regarding their rights. Mr. Brimley knows the local experts, counselors, and other professionals who can assist his clients to resolve their disputes favorably. If you’re looking for an aggressive child custody attorney, schedule a time to meet with Mr. Brimley to see how he can fight for you to protect your rights to your children.
For our Provo and Utah Valley clients, our office BRIMLEY FAMILY LAW, LLC is conveniently located in downtown Provo at 43 E. 200 N. Don’t hesitate – contact our office today! BRIMLEY FAMILY LAW, LLC at (801) 375-1100
