Reasons To Call an Experienced Custody Lawyer When it Comes to Child Custody Disputes Throughout the world, thousands of families are torn apart by divorce. Marriages that end in divorce average eight years with the majority of first time divorces ending when couples are thirty, many already with children. Child custody disputes can be nasty and there are numerous factors taken into consideration to determine which parent the children will live with, while giving visitation rights to the other parents. Before you start wondering whether you really need a custody lawyer to draw up your custody agreement, there are some distressing statistics you may want to take a close look at. Throughout the United States there are 14.4 million custodian parents who have custody of 23.4 million children. It's also important that you are aware that the United States is ranked sixth in the world when it comes to divorce rate. Often parents cannot come to an agreement regarding their divorce, or children, which is why a family lawyer can be the solution, helping to mediate and assist with settlement negotiations, ensuring that the best interest of the children is taken into consideration. More than twenty eight percent of children in the United States live with one parent. Currently the statistics show that 81.7% of mothers have custody over their children and 18.3% of fathers. At the same time, it's important to note that 31.8% of mothers live below the poverty line throughout the country. Interestingly, the mothers who have custody over their children, only 31.8% were married, with 87.1% having never been married. Millennials are choosing to live together as a couple, without going through the marriage process, many of whom have children. As a result, the number of mothers with custody of their children who were never married to the father, but this does not mean that a custody agreement is not needed. Couples living as common law still go through the same disagreements regarding their children when it comes to separation, as those parents who are married.
What is worrying, especially for custody lawyers, is that less than fifty percent of custodial parents have a formal agreement in place. 53.4% of custodial mothers have an agreement in place regarding their children, visitation rights and custody payments, while only 28.8% of custodial fathers have an agreement. An even more troubling statistic is that 80.2% of custodial parents who are owed child support, are mothers. A high percentage of custodial mothers in the United States are over the age of forty. As a parent it is essential to ensure you have a set custody agreement in place. The best way to achieve this is to secure the services of an experienced and reputable custody lawyer who can mediate between you and the other parent and help with settlement negotiations in order to come to an agreement. The agreement set out by the custody lawyer should cover who the children are to live with, how often the other parent has visitation rights and any child support payments that will be paid. This should all be stipulated in detail and signed by both parents to eliminate the risk of confusion and problems in the long run. In addition to this, parents who are thinking of divorcing, should discuss child custody with their family lawyer early on during the planning process. The State of California, for example, will take numerous factors into consideration before awarding custody. These include the age of the child, the child's health, who the child prefers to live with, the stability of the custodian parent, along with other factors, ensuring the children's best interests are always taken care of.
RSC Law Group, a family law group, is a leading family law firm that has extensive experience in Monterey, San Benito and Saint Clara family courts. This well-established firm is comprised of an experienced team of qualified professionals who focus on helping their clients secure a fast resolution. They provide a host of family law solutions with cost effective methods that clients can rely on and trust. They handle all cases from beginning through to final resolution both with settlement negotiations or in the courts room. They also assist with mediation and settlement negotiations. RSC Law Group has experience in all family law cases from simple cases to more complex cases. RSC Law Group is dedicated to protecting your family, your assets, and your future. To find out more, visit http://www.montereydivorcelawgroup.com.