Attleboro, Massachusetts: Child Custody and Visitation
Bristol County ∙ Norfolk County ∙ Plymouth County ∙ Barnstable County ∙ Worcester County
For many parents, nothing is more frightening than the prospect of losing contact with — or parenting responsibility for — your children as the result of a divorce.
If you are planning or considering a divorce, and are worried about what decisions will be made about child custody, parenting plans and visitation rights, it is important to seek early advice from family law attorneys having advanced experience with Massachusetts' child custody laws and rulings from the Massachusetts' family courts regarding child custody and visitation.
Getting early advice from a knowledgeable lawyer accomplishes two goals: You can educate yourself about how the court is likely to award child custody in your particular case, and your lawyer can get an early start on building arguments to support your own desires regarding child custody or visitation arrangements.
Volterra, Goldberg & Jacobs also represents parents who wish to change an existing child custody and visitation plan, called a divorce decree modification. We also help parents involved in enforcement actions — attempting to enforce a visitation agreement, for example, or explain to the court that they have valid reasons for not following the visitation agreement as set forth in the formal divorce decree.
In general, child custody will always be awarded based on the judge's determination of the best interests of the child. In other words, the overriding concern of the courts is the child's best interests, not the parents' preference. Some of the questions the judge will ask to determine how to award custody include:
- Who has been the primary parent or primary caregiver throughout the child's life?
- If the parents have separated, who are the children currently living with? To what extent would it disrupt the children to change their existing living conditions?
- What is the quality of the relationship between each parent and the children?
- Does either parent have a history of drug or alcohol abuse or a criminal record? Has either parent committed acts of domestic violence?
- Would it threaten the children's safety to be in the custody of either of the parents?
- If one parent wishes to move out of state with the children, would it threaten the other parent's ability to maintain a relationship with the children via long-distance visitation?
Get Legal Advice About Child Custody from Volterra, Goldberg & Jacobs
Since 1975, Volterra, Goldberg & Jacobs, Law Counsellors, Inc., has provided thorough legal advice and zealous representation on behalf of parents involved in child custody disputes. Our attorneys — each of whom has more than a decade of legal experience — are known in the legal community as ethical and strong advocates for their clients, and we care greatly about doing everything possible to achieve our clients' goals in any legal dispute regarding children.
