Newburyport Child Custody Disputes Attorney

At Turco Legal, our Newburyport child custody disputes lawyers are skilled, proactive family law advocates. With extensive knowledge of child custody laws and substantial experience litigating complex family law matters, we have the expertise that you can count on. If you are in a child custody dispute, professional help is just a phone call away. To arrange your confidential case evaluation with a top Massachusetts family law attorney, please contact our Newburyport law office today.

Your Guide to Child Custody Laws in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Child custody is complicated. So, parents and other interested parties need to understand how custody and visitation disputes are dealt with under Massachusetts law. There are specific rules, regulations, and procedures in place regarding child custody. Here are four important things to know if you are going through a child custody dispute in Newburyport.

• Massachusetts Divides Custody into Legal and Physical Components: Child custody has two components in Massachusetts—legal custody and physical custody. Legal custody is best understood as parental decision-making authority. A parent with legal custody has decision-making power regarding key matters in the child’s life, such as health and education. Physical custody refers to where the child resides (i.e., with which parent).

• The Court Can Award Sole Custody or Shared Custody: Sole custody or joint custody may be granted in Massachusetts. Notably, parents may share both legal and physical custody. Alternatively, one parent may be awarded primary physical custody while both parents share legal custody. It’s also possible for a judge to award one parent sole legal and sole physical custody of the party’s child. However, generally, Massachusetts probate and family courts strongly favor shared child custody.

• The Resolution of Disputes Hinges on What Is in the Best Interests of the Child: Under Massachusetts law (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 208 § 31), any child custody dispute that goes to court will be evaluated and decided under the “best interests of the child” legal standard. In making its custody determination, the court will prefer the child custody arrangement it deems best for the health, emotional well-being, and physical safety of the child.

• Very Limited Rights for Non-Parents: Non-parents who are close to a child have very limited legal rights regarding custody in Massachusetts. Still, it is possible for a non-parent who has developed a proven, strong relationship with a child to petition the court for visitation. For example, a grandparent who lived with and provided care for a child for several years may be entitled to visitation rights.

We Handle the Full Range of Child Custody Disputes in Newburyport

No matter the nature of the child custody dispute you are going through, our Newburyport family law attorneys have the skills and experience to help you find the best outcome. With substantial legal knowledge, we handle the full range of child custody disputes throughout Essex County. Our legal team knows that every child custody case is different, so we’re able to help you in the following ways.

• Child Custody Dispute Mediation: Many custody disputes can be resolved in an amicable, relatively low-conflict manner. Our Newburyport child custody dispute lawyers represent parents who are looking to resolve their custody matters in a non-adversarial setting like mediation.

• Child Custody Dispute Litigation: We are a trial-tested family law firm with extensive experience litigating complex cases. While our child custody attorneys put an emphasis on amicable problem-solving, we are always ready to aggressively litigate your case.

Why Rely on Our Newburyport, MA Child Custody Lawyers

If you are going through a child custody dispute in Essex County, it is normal to have a lot of questions about what comes next. At Turco Legal, we are here to answer those questions and take action to protect your family. When you reach out to our Newburyport law office, you will have a chance to connect with a Massachusetts family law attorney who can:

• Conduct a comprehensive review of your child custody dispute;
• Gather the evidence and information to support your case;
• Evaluate all options for an amicable resolution (negotiation, mediation, etc.); and,
• Take your child custody dispute to court to protect your rights, if needed.

Schedule a Confidential Consultation with a Newburyport Child Custody Attorney Today

At Turco Legal, our Newburyport family law attorneys have extensive experience representing parents in child custody cases. If you are involved in a child custody dispute, professional guidance and support are just a phone call away. Reach out to us at (978) 225-9030 or connect with us online to set up your confidential initial case evaluation. From our Newburyport law office, our family law attorneys handle child custody disputes in Essex County and throughout Eastern Massachusetts.