Fort Wayne Child Custody Lawyer

Child custody disputes are some of the ugliest battles fought in a courtroom. The state of Indiana, much like every U.S. state, considers the welfare of the child to be the top priority when determining custody issues. It also defaults on the opinion that it is in the best interests of the child to have both parents be a part of his or her life. In other situations, it may be complicated by a history of drug abuse or alcoholism. One or the other parent may be emotionally unstable and/or abusive. While this can negatively impact your chances for custody, it is not a bar to secure visitation rights. If one parent has made strides to clean up his or her act, then that can be shown as evidence that the parent is ready to have a relationship with the children.

In other cases, if one parent is concerned that the other parent is not fit to have a relationship with the children, our experienced Indiana family law attorney can help argue that case before the judge. The Robert Bellinger Law Office understands how important your children are to you. Set up an appointment and let us handle your child custody dispute passionately and professionally.

Different Types of Custody in Indiana

Indiana law makes a distinction between various types of custody. Even if a child does not live with a parent, the parent can be said to have ‘legal’ custody if he or she is empowered to make key decisions in the child’s life. These include decisions concerning the child’s education, health care choices, and more.

When most people think of child custody, they think of residential or physical custody. Physical custody denotes with whom the child lives. Physical custody can be split between two households but, more often than not, only one parent has primary physical custody.

Similarly, joint custody occurs when both parents have decision-making rights over the child. Visitation rights are a separate concept entirely. A parent may have the right to visit and spend time with the child, either supervised or alone, without having legal custody (or the right to make decisions on the child’s behalf).

Find an Attorney Who Will Fight for You

In cases in which you as a parent had a history of drug or alcohol abuse or there was some other problem in the relationship, you will have to prove to the court that you are prepared to have a relationship with your children. This could mean going to rehab, going to therapy, or otherwise proving your responsibility to the court. This process takes time and there may be a period of supervised visitation to deal with.

In cases in which you believe the other parent is a threat to your children, you may be vehemently opposed to them having any relationship at all. We can help you prove your point to the judge.

Give us a call today and set up an appointment with the Robert Bellinger Law Office. We can help.