Child Custody

New York Child Custody Lawyer Robert G. Smith

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Protecting Your Relationships

My goal as your attorney is to help you protect your children’s relationship with you.

Under New York Law, the best interests of the children is the standard to determine who should have primary physical custody of the children. No attorney can guarantee results. If you feel you should have primary physical custody, I will help you to obtain that goal.

Joint custody does not officially exist as a remedy that can be ordered by a New York Court. However, if the parties agree, the court can approve such an agreement. Our courts often employ mental health experts to evaluate both parents involved in a child custody dispute. The forensic mental health experts will seek to identify risk factors for parenting ability, such as mental illness, and for certain parenting qualities, such as which parent is more insightful and which parent is more child-centered. I have expertise in working with mental health experts in child custody cases and using these experts to our advantage in a trial. You will not improve your case for primary physical custody by bringing your child into the divorce controversy. The children may have a voice, depending on their age and abilities. A very young child can be easily influenced or misguided. By adolescence the child’s preferences become the most important factor.

Because divorces are emotionally charged, people have a great temptation to say or do something that will produce a momentary burst of adrenaline, but no long-lasting result. If you are seeking a trial for child custody, I will personally work with you to teach you the skills you will need to testify successfully in court. I also help clients with post-divorce modifications of custody and visitation orders.

Contact Child Custody Attorney Robert G. Smith for more information about child custody and visitation rights.

Free Consultation: Call 212-499-0940

Nationally Recognized Divorce Attorney
Television Commentator on Divorce and Criminal Defense Issues