No one relishes the thought of having to go through a child custody case. If you are in the midst of a custody battle, you need to know your rights and have someone on your side to make sure those rights are protected. Through an attorney, you can get help with your Child Custody on Long Island, NY so the entire process can go more smoothly and be less stressful. Understanding what occurs during a child custody case can set your mind at ease and prepare you for what lies ahead.
What Happens During a Child Custody Case?
When meeting with your attorney for the first time, you will need to provide as much information as possible. You should be prepared to answer questions about the custody issues so your attorney will have a good idea of the representation needed in your case. After meeting with your attorney, he or she will first petition the court for custody. If there has been no custody order in place, the petition will be filed and the other party will be notified and required to respond. If an order is already in place, there must have been a substantial change to have occurred to cause the judge to be willing to revisit the custody issue. In the petition, the attorney will draw up a statement as to why you should be given custody.
The first part of the child custody case Long Island, NY involving the court system will be when all parties are asked to appear in court. During the appearance part of the case, you or the other party will not be asked to testify and normally the attorneys do all of the talking. At this first appearance, a hearing will be scheduled. It normally takes around three weeks to get a hearing date. This gives the attorney time to prepare your case.
During the hearing, both parties can bring in people to testify. The attorneys may also call the parties to the stand. The hearing may take days or weeks, depending on the issues at hand. At the end of the hearing, the judge will make the decision on custody.
If you are dealing with Child Custody on Long Island, NY and need assistance with your case, contact the Law Office of Alan Raymond Barr P.C. and learn how they can represent you.
