When your marriage ends, it can affect every member of the family. Children can be especially vulnerable during this time, and if you decide to seek child support and custody from your ex-spouse, this can be difficult to accomplish on your own. You may be unsure if you need to hire a child custody lawyer, like a child custody lawyer in Rockville, MD, to assist you with this aspect of your divorce, but there are a few questions you can ask yourself before you proceed.
- Has My Spouse Hired a Lawyer?
If your spouse has obtained legal services, then you may want to lawyer up as well because this can give him or her an advantage when it comes to settling your case and setting up child support payments. While there are some laws you can learn that might help you support your case, your spouse’s lawyer is likely to have more education and experience to win your spouse any custody and damages he or she is seeking.
- Where Will I Live?
Your divorce may cause you or your spouse to move out of the family home, and one or both of you may even relocate to a new state. When this happens, there are child custody and support laws that you will need to learn about. Because these laws can vary from state to state, hiring a lawyer can help you understand jurisdiction laws and follow them in a way that could give you peace of mind as you adjust to living in a new area.
- How Much Child Support Do I Need?
Calculating child support amounts can be daunting, especially if you have more than one child. Working with a lawyer may help you untangle this question more easily and ensure that your ex-spouse is clear about his or her responsibilities connected with payment. While there are basic support patterns that most states tend to implement during a divorce that involves child custody, there are caveats and limitations to laws within these patterns, so working with a lawyer can be helpful and allow you to set up payments in an effective and timely manner.
- Do I Need to Fight for Visitation Rights?
If your spouse has told you he or she will not allow you to see your children, hiring a lawyer can help you fight for your visitation rights. While the circumstances of your divorce can affect these rights, speaking with a lawyer about your options may be effective for setting up a court-mandated visitation schedule so you can remain an important part of your children’s lives.
Child custody and support issues can be confusing factors in divorce. Contact a lawyer today for more information and to have your questions answered.
Thanks to the Law Office of Daniel J. Wright for their insight into how a child custody lawyer can help during a divorce.