Burnsville Child Custody Lawyer
Protect & Restore Your Parental Rights in Dakota County
In
divorces, child custody is often among parents' most argued subjects. Visitation
schedules can also be challenging to agree on in a
contested divorce. However, parents may achieve joint custody if both parents are willing
to structure a parenting plan together that is agreeable.
The child custody lawyers in Burnsville, Minnesota, at Meinerts Law, help guide you through visitation and custody disputes and ensure that your child's best interests stay in mind.
What are the Two Types of Child Custody in Minnesota?
There are two types of child custody in the state of Minnesota:
- Legal custody allows parents to make crucial decisions regarding the child's upbringing.
- Primary custody is awarded to the parent who will house and care for the child day-to-day.
What Factors Go Into Determining Child Custody?
The custody decision is left to the judge if you, your spouse, or the other child's parent cannot decide outside of court. The decision means that the judge will consider all aspects of your case and several factors to make a decision.
A few of the factors that the judge in family court may consider include:
- Who has been the primary caretaker
- The child's preferences
- If the parents have a history of abuse
- The parents' ability to spend time with the child
Advocating for Unmarried Father’s Rights in Minnesota
At Meinerts Law, our family lawyers understand that relationships between family members can be confusing. For example, in a divorce, grandparents can often be forbidden from seeing their grandchildren due to the rifts between the divorced parents. Also, unmarried fathers may need the court to seek custodial rights or visitations. Whatever the case, our caring child custody attorneys in Burnsville are here to support you.
At What Age Can a Child Refuse Visitation in Minnesota?
Despite no specific age, the child is mature enough to express a personal opinion on which parent they want to stay with. It is very uncommon for the court to accept the view of a child younger than seven years old. Therefore, custodial preferences are almost always awarded to teenagers as long as there are valid reasons for having that preference.
Virtual Visitations in Minnesota
With the rise of technology, some divorced parents find it easier to stay in touch with their children and keep their relationships intact, even from a distance. Tools like FaceTime are increasing in popularity, and in some states, they're now a right that parents have. For example, Utah was the first state to enact an electronic visitation law that could give parents the request to communicate with their children electronically.
However, laws are intended to supplement rather than replace traditional visitation methods. This means that virtual visitation is intended to provide another way of strengthening the bond between the parent and child.
Additional Locations We Serve:
For knowledgeable and compassionate child custody representation in Burnsville, call our firm now at (952) 777-8886 to speak with a member of our legal team.