Long Island Child Custody Attorneys

Child custody and guardianship are legal terms that refer to the legal and practical relationship between a child and his/her parent(s).  Child custody arrangements determine:  which parent a child will live with, the amount of time the child will spend with each parent, which parent will make decision pertaining to the child’s well-being, and the visitation rights of each parent.  In the state of New York, there are several different types of child custody arrangements that may be ordered by the court.

Types of Child Custody
Sole Physical Custody – one parent will have actual control and possession of the child until the child turns 18 years of age.  The child will live with the parent who has sole physical custody.

Sole Legal Custody – one parent will have the legal authority to make all decisions pertaining to the child’s health, education, and overall welfare.

Shared Physical Custody – both parents will have actual control and possession of the child until the child turns 18 years of age.  The child will reside with both parents for a set period of time each year.

Shared Legal Custody – both parents will have the legal authority to make all decisions pertaining to the child’s health, education, and overall welfare. 

Non-parental Custody – neither parent will have legal or physical custody of the child.  In non-parental custody cases, a close relative, such as a grandparent, will have physical and legal custody of the child.

Child Custody Factors
When the court makes a decision pertaining to the custody of the child, the court will always keep the child’s best interests in mind.  In order to make a decision that will benefit the child, the court must consider a variety of factors, which include: 

• the child’s current living arrangement
• where the child attends school
• the income of both parents
• the role of each parent as the child’s caretaker
• the ability of each parent to provide emotional and mental support for the child
• the child’s preference (if the child is of a certain age)

Family Law & Child Custody Attorneys
Samuelson, Hause & Samuelson
If you plan to seek custody of your child children, you should consult with a trust worthy family law attorney.  A family law attorney can evaluate your situation and provide valuable legal insight.  Most importantly, a lawyer can guide you throughout the child custody process and make sure that your rights and your children remain protected.  At Samuelson, Hause & Samuelson, our child custody attorneys have over 65 years of collective family law experience.  We are dedicated to obtaining excellent results for each of our clients and their families.