New Jersey courts evaluate a variety of legal factors to determine parents' access to their children following a divorce or estrangement. The factor they consider most important, however, is what is considered the "best interest" of the child.
The Law Offices of Veronica R. Norgaard, LLC, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, is familiar with these factors and with the kinds of evidence that can influence New Jersey judges' interpretations of them. The firm's founding attorney, Veronica R. Norgaard, meets with her child custody and support clients, discusses their circumstances thoroughly and provides options for obtaining the degree of custody and visitation that fulfills their needs.
In all cases, attorney Norgaard aggressively pursues her clients' interests and those of their children, whether they seek sole custody, joint legal custody or joint physical custody.
Factors Affecting Parenting Time | New Brunswick Child Custody Attorney
In New Jersey, child custody and visitation are determined by factors, including the:
- Locations of each parent
- Qualities of the relationships between the parents and the children
- Abilities of each parent to meet the child's emotional and physical needs
- Time the child has lived in a stable home
- Mental and moral fitness of each parent
- Evidence of violence or neglect
- Child's preference, depending on his or her age and maturity
Determining which type of custody is desirable, or likely, depends on circumstances and the wishes of the parents. Sole custody awards both physical and legal custody of the child to one parent, with the other parent receiving visitation or parenting time.
With joint legal custody, both parents have joint responsibility of all major decisions about the health, welfare and education of a child. Joint physical custody can occur only when the parents cooperate and agree to share day-to-day parenting of the child.
Co-Parenting With a Parenting Plan | Brick Child Support Attorney
Next to custody, the issue of child support is highest in the minds of most parents. In New Jersey, child support is intimately linked with child access. Parents who have primary custody tend to receive child support as well.
More specifically, however, child support is determined by New Jersey family courts according to a standard calculation, which includes several factors, including each parents' gross income, the number of supported children, the children's ages and each parents' contributions to the child's health care costs and day care expenses.
The Law Offices of Veronica R. Norgaard, LLC, uses the most current versions of the same software that New Jersey family court judges use when deciding child support awards. This allows the firm to estimate the amounts its clients will pay or receive in child support before a divorce is final.
Aggressive Representation, a Reasoned Approach
Attorney Norgaard pursues her clients' goals for custody and support aggressively and vigorously, both in and out of court. She routinely assists clients in seeking modifications of child custody and support orders, as well, including situations in which child removal is concerned.
However, attorney Norgaard urges her clients — when it is possible — to seek negotiated resolutions to their parenting time and support disputes. Parents who can agree on a child's living arrangements as part of a parenting plan can save thousands of dollars in legal fees, as well as time, effort and emotional distress.
Free Consultation | The Law Offices of Veronica R. Norgaard, LLC
For more information or to schedule a free initial consultation with a lawyer, contact the law office online in New Brunswick, New Jersey, or by calling 732-226-7619.
