Child Custody Attorneys Newport News
If you are facing a legal concern that relates to the custody of your children, it’s a primary concern that requires careful consideration. When your parental rights are involved, the matter is too important not to work closely with an experienced child custody attorney in Newport News.Â
Common Child Custody Matters
Child custody is a primary term of any divorce that involves shared children, but the scope of child custody concerns goes well beyond divorce, including:
- Post-divorce child custody modifications
- Child custody arrangements for parents who were never marriedÂ
- Temporary orders while your divorce is pending
Whatever your child custody issue is, it’s important to you and your children’s future and deserves the professional legal guidance of a dedicated child custody attorney.Â
Legal and Physical Custody
The State of Virginia addresses child custody in terms of both legal custody and physical custody.Â
Legal custody has to do with the responsibility of parental decision-making related to primary concerns like the following:
- Your children’s schooling
- Your children’s extracurricular activities and travel
- Your children’s healthcare needs
- Your children’s religious education
You and your children’s other parent can share this responsibility, can split it between you, or can assign it to one parent alone.Â
Physical custody determines when your children will be with you and when they will be with your ex. The basic choices fall into two classifications that include:
- One parent has the children the majority of the time (while the other has them according to a visitation schedule)
- You and your ex split your parenting time equally or nearly equally
If you and your children’s other parent can reach an agreement regarding these issues, you’re unlikely to need the court’s intervention on the matter. If not, however, you’ll need to court to make the determinations on your behalf.
The Court’s Position
When Virginia courts make child custody decisions, the best interests of the children always guide the process. The factors considered by the court include all the following:
- Your children’s ages and overall health (both physical and psychological)
- Your children’s developmental needs
- The depth of the relationship between each of you and each child
- The role that each of you fills in your children’s lives and the degree to which each of you participated in raising them to date
- The preferences of you and your children’s other parent
- The preferences of your children (if they are of an age and a level of maturity in which their opinions are deemed meaningful)
- Your ability and commitment to communicating openly and cooperating with your children’s other parent regarding parenting concerns (and vice versa)
- Anything else that the court determines is relevant to your case.
It’s Time to Consult with an Experienced Child Custody Attorney in Newport News
The compassionate child custody attorneys at Mahoney Richmond Thurston, PLLC, in Newport News understand exactly how emotionally and legally challenging child custody matters are and are committed to skillfully advocating for your case’s best possible resolution. We’re on your side, so please don’t wait to contact us today.
What Our Clients Are Saying
5 Stars!
I worked with Nicole Thurston, Joy, and Nancy and they were all amazing to work with. They went above and beyond to help me fight in my custody battle and my son is now doing excellent. They cared about the outcome of our case showed how much they cared. He has straight A's, on the Principal's list, and getting college offers and letters from congressmen to congratulate him for his success. We would not have gotten this far it was not for this legal team fighting day and night to give us the best possible outcome. Thank you all for everything you have done for our family. Sincerely, Tamara
Nicole handled my divorce, she was professional and detailed. If I had a question it was usually answered the same day. In court, she was very professional, had all details, and was fully ready to represent me. I could not have asked for a better attorney to represent me!
I am very impressed with Andy's capabilities - he is a talented young lawyer.
Reeves is a fine lawyer, with a great sense of humor.
Mr. Richmond deals with his clients compassionately and with legal precision. You can have confidence that he is looking out for you and trust his judgment and advice. Take his advice seriously. Mr. Richmond does a good job communicating with his clients, keeping them informed along the way.
Andrew Richmond is a great lawyer and extremely smart.
I did my research on divorce and family law attorneys before contacting anyone. A trusted friend had used Nicole and her team's services previously and highly recommended her. Entering the MNR Law offices I met their receptionist. Her smile both lightened the mood and removed some of the stress from the streets. I found the conference room to be well lit, supplies readily available, and the conduct of the staff I encountered to be well above everyday professional courtesy. Nicole was the first attorney I met with and after our initial meeting, discussing options, criteria, contractual obligations, and services that would be contracted for, I confidently chose her to be my legal counsel. The contracts were explained in detail and reviewed prior to initiating our financial transactions, and I feel I received more than what I contracted for. I paid for professional services; what I got included personalized service, the respect, and distinction of being an individual. My concerns were thoroughly vetted and understood from a personal level and translated to what I wanted and needed on a professional legal level. The team prepared the battlefield and for potential contingencies, ready to execute, ready to win. We faced the opposition…
5 stars!
I recommend them completely!
Very pleased with their professionalism and seriousness with my case.
Listen, I did the circuit of family lawyers in Virginia Beach and Andy is, hands down, the most honest, capable, genuine, and reliable lawyer around.
Reeves Mahoney did an outstanding job as my attorney during a recent contested custody battle. Knowledgeable, honest, and direct, I appreciated Reeves’ sage counsel during an incredibly difficult and anxious time. Reeves and his team provided excellent guidance and successfully navigated me through the heretofore unfamiliar minefield of family law. Reeves is one of the finest, if not the finest family law attorneys in Hampton Roads and enjoys a stellar reputation in the family law system.
Nicole was amazing to work with for my son's adoption finalization. She was extremely personable, always responded quickly to any questions, calls, or emails, and extremely nice! She made the final stages of our adoption journey amazing!
I am very thankful for all of your services. I don’t know how I would have gotten through this without you all. Your help was priceless.
I will never regret seeking (Reeves Mahoney’s) counsel … You’ve given me a lot of great advice and insight and that I’ll never regret any penny that I paid to gain that. … I just wanted to let you know that you provided a great service to me today and I will be eternally grateful.
Nicole knew exactly how to handle to my situation, doing so rapidly; conformed to my wishes, no drama. Amazing advocate: excellent skills explaining complex legalese in everyday terms. Great sense of humor: explains difficult topics; diffuses stressful situations. Guide & confidant. Earned my trust & maintained it throughout. Quality of service was outstanding! Value is phenomenal Follows up on questions & requirements, often same day, with quality details in clear & concise communications
Andy and his paralegal, Nancy, are wonderful. I had an entire custody reversal made, which I have come to understand is a rarity. Andy is clearly knowledgeable about family law and well respected by the court.
Andrew T. Richmond 
Reeves W. Mahoney
Nicole M. Thurston
Jessica N. TrotmanVirginia Beach Location
Phone
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