Lawrence Child Custody Lawyers

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Contact Joseph, Hollander & Craft to discuss how our team of attorneys can help you.

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Contact Our Lawrence Office

Contact Joseph, Hollander & Craft to discuss how our team of attorneys can help you.

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Lawrence Child Custody Lawyers Here to Support You

Child custody matters are highly sensitive and emotional matters. Joseph, Hollander & Craft’s Lawrence child custody lawyers are here to support you and guide you through this difficult time. JHC’s Lawrence child custody lawyers want our clients to be able to focus on their families, not on the litigation process. We work with you to learn about your family situation, assess realistic options for your case, and suggest solutions to help reduce conflict and promote resolution. JHC’s Lawrence child custody lawyers have the skill and experience necessary to help you through any child custody matter that may arise in your case. As we go through the child custody process together, we will protect your rights and the best interests of your children.

Child Custody in Divorce Cases

When a divorce is filed and the parties have minor children, a legal document called a parenting plan is used to determine each parent’s rights and responsibilities. A parenting plan can include as much information and detail as the parties deem necessary to accomplish this goal, but the primary goal of the parenting plan is to determine legal custody, residency, and parenting time.

Kansas courts determine whether child custody and parenting plans are appropriate by looking at the best interest of the child. Our Lawrence child custody lawyers will guide you through the factors and discuss the special circumstances a judge will consider when making this determination in your case. We focus on working closely with our clients to learn about their unique family dynamics and their children’s specific needs in order to craft a parenting plan that works for the family and will receive approval from the court.

Child Custody in Other Family Law Matters

Child custody may also be an issue in matters regarding paternity, grandparent rights, and guardianships.

Contact Our Lawrence Child Custody Lawyers

Regardless of whether you are going through a divorce or a paternity case involving a custody battle, our Lawrence child custody lawyers can help you through your case. We can also assist you in grandparent rights and guardianship matters.

Call JHC’s Lawrence child custody attorneys to see how we can help with your child custody issues.

Frequently Asked Questions About Lawrence Child Custody

How is child custody determined when the child’s parents are not married?

Under Kansas law, prior to paternity being established in Court, a mother has sole custody and full parental rights to a minor child. Paternity can be established by filing a petition with the Court or by agreement of the parties.

In Kansas, if the father is listed on the minor child’s birth certificate, then the parents may sign a voluntary Admission of Paternity to establish the father’s parental rights. If the mother does not acknowledge or admit paternity, then the father typically will need to file a paternity petition with the Court.

Our Lawrence paternity lawyers can assist you with this process. It may require presenting evidence to the court regarding the father-child relationship and biological connection. If the court establishes paternity, then the parents would proceed to determine child custody.

Can one parent keep the child away from the other parent?  

Sometimes it is possible for one parent to keep a child away from the other parent, but these are rare situations. For example, if there has been child abuse in the home and a court has entered an order terminating custody, then a child may be taken away from the abusive parent. This requires a finding by the court that it is in the best interest of the child to not see the abusive parent.

If paternity has not been established, under Kansas law the mother is the only legal parent to the child and the father has no rights to see the child. A mother in this situation could keep a child away from the father until paternity has been legally established.

Unless a situation like this applies, one parent cannot keep a child away from the other parent. Keeping a child away from his or her legal parent without a court order can have serious repercussions, especially when there is a court order directing that both parents share custody or parenting time.

Our Locations

Kansas City | 816-673-3900

926 Cherry St
Kansas City, MO 64106
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Lawrence | 785-856-0143

5200 Bob Billings Pkwy, #201
Lawrence, KS 66049
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Overland Park | 913-948-9490

10104 W 105th St
Overland Park, KS 66212
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Topeka | 785-234-3272

1508 SW Topeka Blvd
Topeka, KS 66612
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Wichita | 316-262-9393

500 N Market St
Wichita, KS 67214
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Contact Our Lawrence Office

Contact Joseph, Hollander & Craft to discuss how our team of attorneys can help you.

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