A sensitively planned separation or divorce can save children from emotional and psychological harm. During marital difficulties children have physical, psychological and emotional needs that must be addressed. Children may require psychotherapy, medical treatment, educational support, childrens legal counsel, and a higher degree of attention from the parents. Legal assistance may help in planning the parenting plan and visitation schedule. Linda utilizes divorce processes, such as the collaborative process that may lead to a better outcome for the children.
Linda also assists clients in agreements regarding:
Child custody and visitation
Child support, Spousal support or Alimony
Community property valuation and distribution
CUSTODY ARRANGEMENTS
Custody and parenting time is usually shared between parents equally unless one parent has a history of chemical dependency, child abuse, or child molestation. Child custody arrangements can be tailored around schedules of parents who travel often or work unusual hours. Special situations may give rise to monitored visitations, court supervised custody, and court mandated classes about co-parenting. Therefore, counsel can be useful in dealing with the difficult task of raising children when the marriage has faltered. Linda routinely handles child custody issues and tries to help create an arrangement that considers the child or children's well being.
Child custody arrangements can include joint legal custody where both parents share decision-making regarding education, non-emergency medical and other designated items such as extracurricular activities. Joint custody means the parties share decision-making and parenting time. Joint custody may, but need not, be an equal or 50-50 parenting time arrangement. The best parenting plan considers many factors including the ages of the children, the parent's work schedules, the distance between the parents' homes, the location of the children's school(s), and, in some cases, the preference of the child(ren).