Protecting Your Parent-Child Relationship – Jackson Parenting Plan Lawyer

Whether you are involved in a divorce or a paternity action, we know that there is no more important issue than preserving your parental relationship with your children.  While you may be anxious about the prospect of a child custody dispute, Mississippi child custody attorney William Kellum III provides supportive but firm representation to parents.  Mr. Kellum also striving to craft child custody and visitation solutions that are workable and stable.  We are committed to reducing our clients’ stress and protecting their children from pointless animosity to the extent possible.

At our Jackson child custody law firm, we know that there are situations where effective contested litigation is merited, such as cases involving parental substance abuse, domestic violence toward the other parent and child abuse or neglect.  We also recognize the benefit of developing an amicable custody and visitation plan that prevents avoidable returns to court to modify or enforce court orders.  We view our role as that of creative problems solvers who can engage in aggressive advocacy when the circumstances justify this approach.

Mississippi Child Custody Laws

Child custody under Mississippi law has two components (1) legal custody and (2) physical custody.  Legal custody refers to the right and responsibility to make decisions about important issues involving the child’s education, medical care and welfare.  Physical custody refers to where the children will live.  Legal custody will usually be joint while physical custody may be shared by both parents or be awarded solely to one parent.  If one parent is granted sole custody, the other parent typically will be awarded visitation.

Best Interest of the Child Standard

Our Jackson child custody attorneys often successfully resolve a child custody dispute through a negotiated custody and/or visitation plan.  Child custody and visitation arrangements that are less than perfect often are more acceptable to both parents than child custody orders imposed by a chancery court judge.  When the court is asked to fashion child custody orders, the court will base its decision on the “best interest of the child” standard.  Some factors that the court may weigh when applying this standard include:

• Child’s health and gender
• Bond between each parent and the child
• Ability and willingness to care for the child
• Moral fitness of each parent
• Caregiver responsibilities prior to divorce
• Employment that entails prolonged periods away from home
• Input of the child based on age

These are only a few examples of factors that the court may consider when crafting a judgment in a disputed child custody case.  Once there is a judgment that includes child custody and visitation orders, the judge generally will be predisposed to maintain the status quo.  A parent that would like to modify child custody and visitation orders after a judgment will need to establish that a substantial change of circumstances has occurred.

Jackson child custody attorney William S. Kellum III represents clients in Jackson, Brandon, Clinton, Canton, Brookhaven, Greenwood, Hattiesburg, Indianola, Madison, Meridian, Natchez, Pearl, Ridgeland, Vicksburg, Yazoo and other surrounding cities and areas.  We offer a free consultation so that we evaluate your situation and answer your questions so call us today at (601) 969-2709 or send us an email to schedule your initial consultation.