Custody & Third Party Custody

Decisions of child custody occur in matters of divorce and paternity. Custody grants rights and responsibilities to one or both parents to make major decisions concerning the child. Examples of major decisions are: consent to marry before eighteen, consent to enter military service before eighteen, consent to obtain a driver's license, authorization for non-emergency healthcare, choice of school, and choice of religion. The determination of whether custody should be sole or joint is based on the best interest of the child, with a presumption that joint custody is usually best for the child. Custody may be determined by the court or through the agreement of both parties.

Third party custody occurs when custody is granted to someone other than the parents. Issues of foster parent custody, third party non-relative custody, relative and grandparent custody, access rights, and other proceedings outside of marriage dissolution are the cutting edge litigation of today's ever-changing definition of family.

For significant cases, (PDF).

Walling Berg & Debele is committed to providing all resources available to our clients. Our High Conflict Resolution Resources Center provides information and resources specific to the needs of families struggling with divorce, custody issues, parenting time and responsibility issues, child development and mental health services.