Honest, Experienced South Bend Custody And Parenting Time Attorneys
Since 1990, our attorneys at the Blanford Law Office have stood by parents during their most difficult moments. We know that legal disputes involving your children are deeply personal. That is why we provide a steady hand, honest answers and confident guidance to help you reach a stable outcome.
Our South Bend parenting time lawyers understand the local court expectations when it comes to custody and parenting time cases. They have extensive backgrounds litigating family law cases involving parental rights. We focus on providing the candor you need to make informed choices for your family.
Conveniently Located Near The St. Joseph County Courts
Our South Bend law office is in the Howard Park neighborhood, just minutes from both the St. Joseph County Courthouse and the Juvenile Justice Center and St. Joseph Probate Court. Our clients work at places like Notre Dame, St. Mary’s, IUSB, state and local government, St. Joseph and Memorial hospitals. They come from the many local manufacturers and small businesses that make up our community. We regularly handle divorces involving child custody and parenting time matters. And, of course, along with custody and parenting time come child support, payment of children’s healthcare expenses and decision-making authority for the children.
Can Your Child’s Preference Affect Custody Decisions In South Bend?
A child’s wishes are one of many factors a court will take into consideration when determining custody and parenting time, with more “weight” given to the wishes of a child who is 14 years old or older. Having said that, a child’s wishes, by themselves, are not going to be enough for a judge to place custody with one parent or the other.
The principal and overriding consideration when determining custody is the children’s best interests.
How Does The Court Determine A Parenting Time Schedule?
In Indiana, a parent who does not have the physical custody of a child is entitled to “reasonable parenting time rights.” Most courts take the position that parents are the best persons to determine what that “reasonable parenting time” looks like, as they are the ones who know their own work and personal schedules, and they’re the ones who will be transporting children to school and appointments, attending extracurricular activities and the like. That’s why in most court orders for parenting time there will usually be a provision – among others – that says something like parenting time will occur “at all reasonable times and places upon which the parents may agree.”
Indiana does have guidelines, though. These “Indiana Supreme Court Parenting Time Guidelines” lay out what is considered the absolute minimum amount of time a noncustodial parent should have with his or her children. It provides for regular contact between the parents and their children, and lays out a schedule for holidays, special days like the children’s and parents’ birthdays, and extended time during the summer, school breaks and the like.
How Does Child Support In Indiana Work
When we talk about contentious family law litigation and mediation, child custody and parenting time issues are right at the top. Child support, though, is right up there too.
Indiana uses what is called the “income shares model” in calculating child support. The idea behind this approach is that both parents have an obligation to support their children, and that children of separated parents – whether born during a marriage or to unmarried parents – should be provided the same standard of living they would have had if the parents were living together.
Several factors go into calculating child support. First, there is the gross income of both parents; yes, gross. That’s income before taxes and often includes overtime, bonuses, etc. Then there’s the cost of health insurance for the children, childcare, sometimes educational expenses (sometimes) and a biggie, the number of nights the children spend with each parent during the year.
In case you’re interested in how much you’d pay or receive in child support if that were to become an issue, you can plug some numbers into the same calculator that most family law attorneys use. It’s located at: https://www.in.gov/courts/services/child-support-calculator
Learn About Your Rights From A South Bend Custody Attorney
When it comes to your children, you deserve skilled child custody lawyers in South Bend to protect your future. Our caring team at the Blanford Law Office is here to help. To set up your initial consultation with a parenting time attorney in South Bend, please send us an email or call 574-303-6459 today.