Child custody can be a major source of contention when navigating separations. Deciding how time is allotted and how decisions are made is essential for ensuring your child’s well-being. Having an experienced child custody lawyer in Vancouver can help you navigate this challenging situation, keeping your child’s best interests in mind.
At Dellino Family Law, we understand child custody battles and the toll it can take on your family. Since 2013, we have helped families like yours finalize child custody cases with confidence that their child will be safe and protected. Our Vancouver family lawyer is here to do the same for you.
Child Custody Looks a Little Different in Washington State
While many people think of child custody as who gets control and residential time with the child for a given percentage of time, in Washington State it is much more involved. Parenting plans provide the legal framework for how parents will raise their children while living separately.
These plans are much more detailed than simply stating who is responsible for your child at a given time. They outline decision-making authority, education plans, holiday schedules, conflict resolution, and more to ensure your child feels secure and stable, regardless of who they are with.
Parents still often use the phrases “custody” or “visitation” conversationally, but the legal terms and court documents are much more detailed. Your Vancouver child custody lawyer can help you understand what you need to know about parenting plans in Washington State.
The Children’s Best Interests Drive Custody Decisions
A judge may look at several factors when establishing custody arrangements. Under RCW 26.09.187, these may include:
- Each parent’s history of handling basic parenting functions
- Each parent’s work schedule
- Your child’s involvement in school and extracurriculars
- Relationships with siblings and other close family members
- Your child’s emotional and developmental needs
- Your child’s relationship with each parent
In Washington, the law puts significant weight on a child’s relationship with each parent. Your child custody attorney in Vancouver can help build your case around this and focus on what’s best for your child, rather than treating the case as a competition between two adults.
A Good Parenting Plan Creates Consistency for Your Child Regardless of Parenting Time
If custody is split, a solid foundation can help prevent future disputes and create a more secure environment for your child with consistent expectations. Parents can also feel good knowing that there is a plan in place.
When creating a plan, co-parents should consider factors such as school transportation, work schedules, distance between homes, childcare, extracurriculars, and your child’s developmental needs. Plans should be realistic and something that both parties can consistently stick to.
A realistic parenting plan should do more than look nice on paper. It should be practical and sustainable. If it isn’t, the likelihood of success drops, which may mean going back to court to renegotiate terms into something more realistic.
Big Decisions Need Clear Ground Rules
Some co-parents believe that when difficult times arise, they’ll be able to agree on major decisions, whether it’s about their child’s health, education, or another major situation. This is rarely the case, and custody agreements should generally include provisions for how difficult decisions will be made.
It is important to consider factors surrounding major medical events, decisions involving your child’s education, or other scenarios that your family places high importance on. When these situations arise, emotions are often heightened, so having a plan in place prior to an event is essential.
A well-drafted plan should clearly state who has authority and how disputes will be handled. This helps eliminate the need to return to court to add additional provisions later, after a high-stress situation has already occurred.
Some Custody Cases Cannot Use a Typical Parenting Plan
The safety of your child should be your top priority, before anything else. Some situations do require more extreme measures, like one parent taking full custody of a child to ensure their safety. This can include scenarios involving:
- Domestic Violence
- Child abuse
- Sexual assault
- Abandonment
- Substance abuse
- Abusive use of conflict (RCW 26.09.191)
- Other forms of abuse or neglect that may have an effect on your child
These situations may also require the use of a protection order. Dellino Family Law can help you obtain a protection order to ensure your safety and your child’s well-being. As your dedicated legal team, we are committed to fighting for you and your children.
Temporary Orders Can Bring Structure to a Custody Dispute
Custody disputes are not always concluded quickly. Even in the most amicable situations, it takes time to make everything official and legal. While proceedings continue, your child deserves predictable, consistent arrangements while you and your co-parent negotiate. This is where a temporary order may become necessary.
Temporary orders can establish residential schedules, parenting time, basic decision-making authority, and other necessary arrangements. This helps your child feel secure, knowing they have consistency in their schedule and living situation, while still allowing you to fight for the best outcome for your family.
Even if orders are temporary, you must take them seriously. Violating temporary orders may be viewed unfavorably by the courts. It shows a lack of respect for a judge’s ruling and may make them question whether you’ll follow permanent orders or violate them as well. Do not risk hurting your case by acting as if temporary orders do not matter.
Protect Your Time With Your Children With Help From Dellino Family Law
Your parental rights matter, and at Dellino Family Law, we are here to help protect them. Custody arrangements affect more than just you. More importantly, they affect your child.
Our Vancouver child custody attorney at Dellino Family Law is here to advocate for you, so you can focus on what matters most: your child.
