Fort Wayne Child Custody Attorney

Child custody disputes may cause confusion, sadness and other negative emotions in a child’s life. Even uncontested separations can leave a child feeling caught in the middle between feuding parents. At the Indiana Bellinger Law Office, we help parents develop child custody and visitation arrangements that put their children’s best interests first. We work hard to minimize the stress on your family and secure a positive outcome.

There are two primary types of custody — legal custody and physical custody.

Fort Wayne Legal Custody Attorney

Legal custody refers to a parent’s right to make decisions on behalf of a child and to care for a child. Matters falling under legal custody include everything from requesting a child’s school report card to making important health care decisions. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, most arrangements support joint custody, meaning that both parents share this role.

Physical Custody Arrangements

Physical custody is what most people think of when they talk about child custody. It refers to designating one parent as the primary physical custodian (primary custody) and the other as the noncustodial parent. Generally, this is a major source of contention because the noncustodial parents (usually fathers) may feel that they will not spend enough time with the children. Our goal is to minimize feelings of animosity and develop a plan that favors both parents in a child’s life.

Child Custody and Mediation

In Indiana, mediation is mandatory for any family law matter involving children. Parents are required to discuss the issue in an open forum and encouraged to come up with a solution, or part of a solution, without court involvement. In general, mediation saves couples time and money, and often creates win-win solutions that work better for the parents and children.

Call a Fort Wayne Child Custody Lawyer Today

Contact The Bellinger Law Office for a child custody lawyer in Fort Wayne who will seek a favorable outcome for you and your children. Call us at 260-428-2214 or contact our family law office online. We serve clients throughout Alan County, Indiana.