Child Custody
Primarily Serving Clackamas, Multnomah & Washington Counties
Child Custody Attorneys in Oregon City
To make effective decisions that will have a positive, lifelong impact on your children’s wellbeing and safety, you need an experienced child custody attorney on your side. At Laidlaw Family Law, our attorneys use a steady and consistant approach to ensure you and your children achieve the best possible outcome.
The importance of investing in the right legal representation cannot be understated. Your children’s future is worth fighting for, and we give you the tools you need to make the best possible decisions regarding custody, child support payments, and other arrangements.
As child custody attorneys in the state of Oregon, we assist with the following processes and procedures:
Child Custody
There are two primary types of child custody arrangements in Oregon — joint custody and sole custody. Joint custody refers to a shared responsibility between parents (not how much time the children spend with each parent). Sole custody refers to decision-making that is granted to just one parent.
Child Support
Child support is determined by a state calculator based on parents’ incomes and the amount of time the child spends with each parent. Other factors such as insurance, childcare, and the child’s needs may be considered in the final child support payment agreement.
Child Support
Child support is determined by a state calculator based on parents’ incomes and the amount of time the child spends with each parent. Other factors such as insurance, childcare, and the child’s needs may be considered in the final child support payment agreement.
Child Custody Arrangement Options
Oregon’s laws governing custody and parenting time apply to both married and unmarried couples. Custody cases begin as soon as one parent files a petition against the other for either custody or parenting time. Depending on your children’s best interests, you can file for either joint custody or sole custody.
Joint Custody
Joint custody means both parents are responsible for the decision-making for their children. It is important to understand that joint custody does not refer to any kind of parenting schedule. For example, joint custody does not mean that time is spent with each parent 50/50. Instead, it refers to shared responsibility for making decisions.
With joint custody, your children might even live with one parent full-time. Furthermore, joint custody does not negate a parent’s responsibility to pay child support.
Sole Custody
Sole custody is awarded if the parents cannot agree to joint custody. In Oregon, sole custody means that one parent makes all major decisions for the children.
How Custody is Determined
The core of any custody arrangement is the best interest of the child. A judge may look at the following factors to decide custody:
- The emotional connection between the child, parent, and other family members
- Parental attitudes toward the child
- Existing or past abuse by either parent
- The desirability of continuing an existing relationship
- The willingness of either parent to facilitate and continue a close and supportive relationship with the child
A judge may also consider home environment, extended family connections, the lifestyles of each parent, and if there are any situations that may cause emotional or physical harm to the child.
How Child Support is Determined
The child support amount is determined by standardized guidelines for calculation. These are the guidelines:
- Each parent’s income
- The amount of time the child spends with each parent
- Health insurance
- Child care costs
- Other factors that impact the parent’s financial situation
Hire a Child Custody Attorney
The right child custody attorney makes a big difference in the outcome of your case. Our attorneys in Oregon City have the insight and experience necessary to help you reach an outcome that serves your children’s best interests.
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