Child Custody and Visitation

Child Custody Lawyer Serving Fayetteville, Fort Liberty, Eastover, NC & Beyond

At Ferguson Law Firm in Fayetteville, NC, our child custody lawyer is committed to finding effective solutions to the often difficult legal issues you are facing. Our child custody lawyer will provide clear legal advice and personalized service to make the process as easy as possible. We are proud to provide our services to civilians and military personnel throughout Hope Mills, Spring Lake, Fort Liberty, and Eastover, NC, as well as individuals who are currently serving our country overseas.

Family law is more than a career for Fayetteville family law attorney Patricia Ferguson — it is truly her calling. To arrange a consultation with our expert child custody lawyer, please call our Fayetteville law firm at 910-860-2889.

Types of Child Custody

There are a variety of child custody scenarios. As you begin the negotiation process, it's helpful to understand the possible types of child custody. Every arrangement is made on a case-by-case basis depending on the fitness of the parents, where the parents live, income levels, and the best interests of the child or children in question. Our Fayetteville child custody lawyer will take into account a number of factors as well as your goals to help you attain:

• Physical Custody:  This is defined as the right to have the child live with you. When a parent has physical custody, they determine where the child lives and handle his or her day-to-day care. Physical custody is not the same as legal custody: a child can live primarily with one parent but still need both parents' approval for major decisions.

• Legal Custody:  Legal custody of a child gives the parent the right and responsibility to make decisions regarding the child's welfare and upbringing. This includes where a child attends school, the medical care they receive, and what religion they will be brought up observing. It also relates to the child's general welfare. Joint legal custody is most often awarded unless one of the parents is deemed incapable of caring for the child.

• Joint Custody: In this type of arrangement, both parents share responsibility for major decisions on behalf of the child. This arrangement allows for the responsibility to be shared without putting all the burden on one parent. Both parents share legal and physical custody in a joint agreement.

• Split Custody:  In this arrangement, custody is shared equally, or the visiting parent has substantially more time with the children than a standard visitation agreement. This type of custody can be divided in many different ways.



• Third Person Custody: A third-party can be awarded custody in some cases - this is usually a grandparent or another close relative. In these instances, circumstances have arisen where the parents are unable to care for their children themselves, whether through death or having been deemed unfit. A child custody lawyer can help you determine whether you meet the required criteria. 
  

Contact our Child Custody Lawyer for Prompt Assistance

We all hope for an amicable separation which may not require the involvement of legal counsel. Unfortunately, this is rarely how things work out. When it comes to child custody issues in particular, you don't want to risk losing your visitation rights by attempting to represent yourself. Our child custody lawyers and parental rights attorneys have experience with a vast array of cases and unique family law situations in the Fayetteville, NC area. In any of the following scenarios, be sure to contact our expert team.

• Your ex has already hired their own attorney

• Your ex is making plans to relocate or remarry

• Your ex wants to prevent you from seeing your child

• You believe your child to be in danger

• Your case crosses state jurisdictions

• The court has you taking parenting classes

Attorney Patricia Ferguson is a skilled negotiator who is often able to resolve issues without going to court. But, if litigation is the best way to protect your rights and the best interest of your children, she is a child custody lawyer you can trust to fight aggressively to achieve a favorable outcome.

Contact us today to learn more about our family law practice in Fayetteville, NC or to schedule a consultation with our child custody lawyer. Check out our child custody law FAQ where we answer some of your most asked questions.