Some parents are quite reasonable and can talk out custody arrangements without battling it out in court. However, some parents might have conflicting ideas on what is best for their kids, and if you can’t agree on certain aspects of parenting, you might need a lawyer to help hash out the negotiation deals. Hiring a child custody lawyer is also ideal if you know that your ex has legal representation because it evens the playing field.

You may not understand what your rights are, but your lawyer does, and they will advocate for you during the entire process. They are well-adept in state custody laws and can tell you the dos and don’ts for winning a child custody case. With a lawyer fighting on your side, no one can intimidate you. A lawyer can also help you file a modification of an existing custody order or take your case in front of a judge if you are unhappy with the initial child custody evaluation. Visit https://napadivorce.com to speak with an experienced child custody lawyer.

That depends on how you define “need”. If you are wondering if you are legally required to establish a formal custody agreement with your ex, then the answer is no. Parents are allowed to take an informal approach to this. In most states, parents get joint custody by default after a divorce, meaning that both parents have equal rights to make decisions related to the child.

You will need a custody lawyer if you want to have sole legal custody of the child. And even if you want to stick with joint custody, having a solid custody agreement is still a good idea. It helps formalize what the rights and obligations of each parent are, and how things are going to be moving forward. That structure helps to make things simpler for both the parents and the child.

Plus, it’s worth noting that you’re not stuck with a custody agreement forever. If both you and your partner agree that a part of the agreement isn’t working, you two can have it changed. Making a unilateral change to the agreement is much more difficult, but not impossible.