Determining the best interests for children is the number one consideration during separation or divorce. Attachments run deep, and children and custody issues can become difficult to resolve, so Taylor & Scott Lawyers provide specialist Family Law assistance to help you get through the tough times and focus on the future.

How is child custody determined?

If you have separated but disagree about arrangements for the children, you will need to make a genuine effort to resolve problems through counselling or mediation. Taylor & Scott Lawyers are renowned dispute resolution lawyers with the ability to find common ground and achieve results.

If your efforts at communication with the other party are ignored, or informal agreements are being overlooked, you require legal assistance to give you negotiation leverage. A satisfactory resolution through Taylor & Scott mediation can save you thousands of dollars lost on an unnecessary or ugly court case and avoid additional emotional trauma for children.

A significant amount of weight in custody decisions is related to the child being safe from harm. Additional factors include:

• The child’s relationship with each parent
• The child’s relationship with grandparents and other relatives
• The time each parent invests into their child’s activities
• The extent each parent has helped to maintain the child
• The likely effect changed circumstances will have on the child
• The difficulties and cost of spending time with a parent

Does the age of the child affect custody?

Family Law determines that it is both parent’s responsibility to care for the welfare and assist with the upbringing of children until they reach the age of 18. The arrangements, shared responsibilities and cooperation of both parents should be in the best interests of the child. A meaningful relationship can exist with both parents after separation or divorce, particularly with the help of Taylor & Scott mediation experts.

Are the child’s wishes taken into consideration?

It’s important that upheaval during separation doesn’t affect children any more than it should. For this reason, empathetic legal representatives attempt to achieve the greatest level of harmony possible for families in the process of splitting up. Children have desires, wishes and preferences just as anybody does, and although their ideas may need formation, it’s worth paying attention.

Children form special bonds with parents, grandparents, relatives, school friends and neighbourhood kids, and uprooting such kinships can be extremely traumatic. If necessary, the Court will weigh up these factors and many more prior to making a child custody decision, but you can save a lot of money and heartache by employing the mediation services of Taylor & Scott Lawyers instead.

What rights do other family members have?

It’s terribly sad when close knit families are torn apart, but with maturity and foresight your informal parenting arrangements or parenting plan can take everyone’s desires into consideration. If you believe relatives or loved ones are being left out of the mix to the detriment of the child’s wellbeing, it might be necessary to formalise a legal Consent Order that provides binding rules for all parties.

Whether you require Taylor & Scott guidance, support or representation, we are here to assist. If you are unsure what step to take regarding children and custody issues, contact us today for a case assessment and essential information regarding your next move for the benefit of your children.

At Taylor & Scott, We Care For You.