Going through divorce proceedings is emotionally challenging, especially when there are children involved. If you’re in the middle of a child custody battle and you want to avoid making critical mistakes that could compromise your time with your kids, turn to Raza & Jones in Saint Louis, Missouri. An attorney from their firm will be happy to answer all of your questions regarding custody.

When it comes to divorce and custody, lawyers are asked a lot of the same questions about child custody, including the following:

Will the Judge Ask My Children Where They Want to Live?

When determining custody, the judge will consider the best interests of the children. Although this might include asking older children where they want to live, it also includes a variety of other factors. In the state of Missouri, there is no law saying a judge must ask children about custody once they reach a certain age. The judge will take your kids’ wishes into consideration but these wishes will not be the determining factor.

What Factors Determine a Custody Arrangement?

Some of the factors to affect a custody agreement include the wishes of the parents, the caretaking roles of each parent during the marriage, and the parents’ interactions with the children. The judge will also consider future factors, like each parent’s continued ability to provide for the children and how the children will adjust to each parent’s new living arrangement.

If the Judge Orders Joint Custody, Will Someone Still Have to Pay Child Support?

If parents share custody, the court may still order one parent to pay child support to the other. The primary purpose of child support is to ensure the children have a similar standard of living at both parents’ homes. Thus, if one parent makes significantly more than other, there will likely be a child support agreement in place, regardless of a joint custody scenario.

Can Grandparents Receive Visitation Rights?

There are no Missouri state laws to guarantee grandparents will receive visitation rights. In some special cases, they may get such rights, but these situations are typically rare. However, because it’s rare doesn’t mean it won’t happen. This is a situation that should be discussed with an attorney, particularly if you’ve been an active member of the child’s life.

If you are considering divorce and foresee contentious custody proceedings, turn to Raza & Jones in Saint Louis, Missouri, for quality legal representation. Visit their website to learn more about their experience in family law, and Contact Jones Family Law Group, LLC today for any questions or to set up a consultation.