Twin Falls Child Custody Attorney
Divorce is never easy. But when you have children together, the stakes are even higher. Who gets custody of the children is a difficult and often contentious decision that Idaho courts do not take lightly. Each parent may want equal parenting time with their children, but the courts will only do what they think is in the children’s best interest. As such, parents need a Twin Falls child custody attorney on their side to protect their parental rights throughout the divorce process.
CHILD CUSTODY LAWS IN TWIN FALLS, IDAHO
If parents are unable to come to a mutually agreeable decision regarding child custody, an Idaho court will make that determination, based on the following factors:
- The wishes of each parent
- The relationship between the child and each parent
- The preferences of the child if he or she is old enough and mature enough to determine those preferences
- The mental health of each parent
- The ability of each parent to meet the basic daily needs of the child, including mental and physical needs
- How the child has adjusted to school and community, and how that could potentially change.
- Whether there is any history of domestic violence by either parent
- The needs of the child as far as stability goes
- Any other factors deemed relevant by the court
While an abusive parent is not automatically prohibited from receiving custody of his or her child, there will be additional challenges to face, particularly if full custody is sought. There are two types of custody in the state of Idaho—legal, and physical. Legal custody refers to the right to make major decisions for the child. These major decisions usually revolve around education, religion, and healthcare, although other decisions could be included as well. Parents will usually be given joint legal custody unless there is a compelling reason not to do so. As an example, if the parents simply cannot even stand to be in the same room with one another, legal custody is unlikely to work out very well.
Physical custody refers to which parent the child will live with. One parent could be awarded sole custody, with the other being awarded visitation. Parents could also have joint custody, where the child splits his or her time equally between the parents. Joint custody can work, but all those involved have to be able to work together to make joint custody work out. The judge will assume that frequent contact with both parents is best for the child, barring evidence to the contrary.
LIVING IN TWIN FALLS
Twin Falls is a city in southern Idaho, known by many as the gateway to Snake River Canyon. At the eastern end of the Snake River Canyon, the Shoshone Falls cascades across rocks. The Perrine Bridge can be accessed through trails along the canyon rim. Visitors will be in awe of the panoramic views—this area is also well-known as a popular launching point for BASE jumpers. At the northern edge of Twin Falls, Perrine Coulee Falls takes a wild tumble over a cliff. Twin Falls is the seventh-largest city in the state of Idaho and is also a popular destination for tourists in the state. The city is charming, with a tranquility and beauty matched by few.
Snake River Canyon is famous for the rocket-powered motorcycle jump attempted by Evel Knievel in 1974. (Knievel crashed due to a parachute malfunction, surviving with only a broken nose). Snake River Canyon offers a breathtaking view of serene surroundings and is perfect for boating, hiking, and fishing. Shoshone Falls is known as the “Niagara of the West,” and is the centerpiece of Twin Falls—even higher than Niagara Falls. The Herrett Center for Arts and Science is a great place to stop off while in Twin Falls, and half an hour away from Twin Falls is the Minidoka National Historic Site which honors the more than 9,000 Japanese-American men incarcerated during the Second World War.
Downtown Twin Falls is a historic district, boasting breweries, amazing restaurants, boutiques, theaters, and an eclectic assortment of vintage stores. Around the area of Twin Falls, Sawtooth National Forest covers 2,110,408 acres, with a 754,000-acre recreational area for hiking and camping. The natural beauty of Twin Falls and the surrounding areas does not mean there are not couples divorcing in Twin Falls, as well as going through child custody disputes.
YOU NEED A TWIN FALLS, IDAHO CHILD CUSTODY LAWYER
If you are going through a Twin Falls, Idaho child custody dispute, it is extremely possible that you have a strong legal advocate in your corner. Our experienced and aggressive attorney will also consider the best interests of your child, as well as your wishes for custody, then will fight for the best solution. Child custody can be an extremely stressful aspect of your divorce—many of the bad feelings attached to the divorce may carry over into your child custody case. As much as parents want what is best for their child, it can be difficult to see that in the middle of a divorce. Having an experienced, compassionate Idaho child custody attorney on your side can truly make a difference in your future.
Your child deserves only the best. Partner with an experience and skilled custody attorney now. We serve primarily in the following cities:
We also serve families throughout Twin Falls, and surrounding Idaho suburbs such as:
Our child custody and family law firm is here to help you. Call our Meridian office today at 208-218 8858 or Boise number at 208-900-6313 for a free consultation.