Child Custody & Visitation Helping You Protect What Matters Most

Child Custody Attorney in Cleveland

Helping Residents of Independence Create Visitation Schedules

One of the most difficult decisions that parents must deal with is child custody - where will the children live? Who will make the decisions? What if a modification is needed for a custody, visitation, or child support court order? Custody battles can be one of the most expensive aspects of a divorce or post-decree case. These costs are not purely financial. There are significant emotional and relational tolls imposed upon the family - especially for children. At The Law Offices of LeeDaun C Williams LLC, our Cleveland child custody attorney can help you create and maintain a schedule that works for all parties involved.

Contact our office at (216) 350-8511 for yourinitial consultation.

Custody vs. Shared Parenting

Custody and shared parenting are two frameworks for allocating parental rights and responsibilities. This means that the legal rights of parents to make decisions and spend time with their children are dictated through both of these legal actions. Under each framework, the right to make important decisions (education, religion, medical) for your children is allocated to one or both parents either by an agreement or through a court decision. Under the custody framework, one parent is the residential parent and legal custodian. This parent makes the important decisions that concern the children on a daily basis.

Under shared parenting, both parents are designated the residential parent and legal custodian. However, one of the parents will be designated the residential parent for school purposes only. This is because schools are very concerned over the residential addresses for school placement. Parents under a shared parenting plan must be able to communicate and work together to make the important decisions for their children together.

Parenting time, also known as visitation, is separate from decision-making authority. A parenting time schedule is established for regular visitation time and sharing holidays and school breaks. This schedule deals with the actual dates and times for parenting time, where the pick-ups and drop-offs will take place, and how the week will be divided. Conflict can be avoided by adding significant detail to your shared parenting plan and parenting time schedules. A good plan will endure and provide certainty and security for both you and your children. You can certainly change the plan by agreement, but the purpose of the plan is to provide guidance when parents cannot agree.

Misconceptions About Shared Parenting

Shared parenting does not mean equal parenting time and it doesn't mean that a parent won't pay child support. These are common misconceptions about shared parenting. When a court decides child custody and parenting time matters, the court looks at the best interests of your children - not the parents. It is always better to come to an agreement with the other parent concerning your children because you know them best. When an agreement isn't possible, the court will look at a variety of factors in determining your children's best interests.

Guardian Ad Litems & Custody Evaluations

Some cases require the assistance of a Guardian Ad Litem or Custody Evaluator. The information obtained from such evaluations can help guide the court in making custody or parenting time determinations. Guardian Ad Litems and Custody Evaluators often assist parents in creating parenting plans that work for their individual families - families like yours.

Here to Help Ensure Your Child’s Best Interests

At The Law Offices ofLeeDaun C. Williams PLLC, our Cleveland child custody and visitation lawyer will work with you and the other parent of your child to determine the best custody and parenting plan for your situation.

Complete our online contact form or call us directly at (216) 350-8511 to schedule your appointment.

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  • Her initial guidance, honesty, and reliable legal understanding had a dramatic and positive impact on us.

    “The above touches the very heart of what we found in LeeDaun during a difficult, confusing, and to say the least complicated situation. Her initial guidance, honesty, and reliable legal understanding ...”

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    “LeeDaun took my case which was in a mess and made leaps and bounds of progress. She guided me and kept me abreast with everything.”

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  • Ms. Williams help me through a very difficult divorce

    “Ms. Williams help me through a very difficult divorce. She helped me make good legal decisions, as well as support me emotionally with all my worries. She was very empathetic, understanding, and most of all, honest.”

    - Mitchell
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    “I hired LeeDaun to help me with my ex-husband multiple times when he decided to file motions and drag me back to court.”

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    “She made herself available and would take the time to explain situations. Whenever one has to deal with the courts it can be intimidating and it is so important to have someone that is pleasant, professional and empathetic.”

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