Alpharetta Attorney Blog

Divorced parents sometimes find it difficult to keep up with their court ordered child support because their income has suddenly decreased and/or the bad economy has affected their circumstances. The original amount of child support ordered by the court at the time of their divorce sometimes needs to be modified because of the changing circumstances. When this happens an Alpharetta divorce attorney can help petition the court for a modification of child support.

Former NFL Wide Receiver Terrell Owens Succeeds In Modifying Court Ordered Child Support

A recent child support modification case made big headlines recently because the father seeking a modification is a celebrity figure. Former NFL player, Terrel Owens, sought reductions in his court ordered child support payments. He had been paying between $5,000 and $20,000 monthly to each of four different mothers of his four children. Terrell had enjoyed a handsome income as a wide receiver for the Cincinnati Bengals but when he was not re-signed in 2011, he suddenly found himself unemployed and unable to fulfill his responsibility for child support payments.

A recent article in the Examiner reported on his success in having his child support modified for 3 of his children. The court has sealed the records about the amount of the settlement, but word is that it is now in line with what Mr. Owens can afford. In addition to getting the court to agree to the modified child support Terrell Owens also set up visitation rights with some of his children which he had not previously had.

According to TMZ, Terrell Owen's 4 children include 2 daughters and 2 sons all of whom are under the age of 11. The child support he had been paying in excess of $40,000 a month for the support of his children simply could not be maintained once he became unemployed. Besides these financial obligations Mr. Owens was also having difficulty paying mortgages on properties he owns and is facing a foreclosure on his Georgia home. Without recourse for modification of child support his financial obligations for his children alone would have been ruinous.

Continue reading "When Job, Income, & Life Circumstances Change You Can Petition The Court For Child Support Modification" »

NFL Linebacker Accused of Child Abuse in Custody Case

The Giants' linebacker, Michael Boley is being investigated on accusations that he physically abused his 5-year-old son. Boley is in a child support dispute with the mother of his child. Boley is being represented by an Atlanta based attorney. If you and your child's parent are developing a child custody plan, an Alpharetta child custody attorney can help you.

Child Visitation Attorney In Alpharetta

Determining how custody and visitation rights should be shared among parents is usually a difficult task. Most parents are very emotionally involved in these determinations, which makes the process more difficult. An Alpharetta child custody lawyer can guide you through this process. Custody and visitation are the legal terms in court ordered determinations of which parent the child lives with and the conditions for the child to visit the other parent. In Alpharetta, the laws surrounding custody and visitation do not favor either a mother or a father. If you and you ex are in the process of coming up with a parenting plan, seek the guidance of an Alpharetta child custody lawyer.

Contact a Cumming Parenting Plan Lawyer

A parenting plan will outline the custodial rights of each parent. A Cumming child custody attorney can help you and your ex come up with a parenting plan that is appropriate and fair. If you are concerned about custody or visitation rights following a divorce or break up, contact an Alpharetta parenting plan lawyer. At the Law Offices of Daniel Mitnick, an Alpharetta based firm, we understand how important your children are to you. Contact the experienced child custody attorneys at the Law Office of Daniel Mitnick today.

When a child custody agreement cannot be made between spouses, the decision is left to the judge. Unfortunately, the judge does not really know you or your spouse. Thus the judge will consider a variety of factors in making his or her decision.

As promised last in last week's blog post, we'll be sharing more of these important factors that judges consider when making a decision in a child custody dispute.

Stability

Children need stability. In a divorce case, they are already losing some of that stability in their lives. If one parent has a more stable support system of friends and family, it would not only be supporting them, but their children also.

Continuity

Thought stability is important, the continuity of the child's life and daily activities is just as important. Will the child have to change schools? Will the child have to completely start over in a new state?

Past and Present

Stability and Continuity may be seen in the life of both parents during the child custody case, but were those factors always present in each parent's life? Not only will the present involvement in the child's life be considered, but also the involvement and stability in the past.

Having dealt with many child custody disputes, our Alpharetta child custody lawyers understand that reaching a mutual agreement may not always be possible. Our experienced attorneys will work to show an honest look at the child's life with their parents to make sure the judge can reach the best decision for the child.

When children are involved in a divorce case, it is best for the whole family if you and your spouse can reach a healthy agreement regarding the custody of your children. However, if an agreement cannot be made, the judge will reach a decision heavily based on the best interest of the child.

There are many factors that are taken into consideration when determining what is in the best interest of the child. Below you will find a few of the factors considered in best interest cases.

Ties Between Children And Parents

This includes the love, affection, bonding, and emotional ties between the child and the child's family. It is not only weighted on the relationship between the child and the parents, but also between the child and the other siblings (if any).

The Ability Of The Parent To Provide For the Child

This does not mean that the parent who makes the most money will get custody. The judge will look at the parent's ability and desire to guide, love and show affection to the child. Along with providing those needs, the ability to provide food, clothing, and other daily needs is important.

Parent's Knowledge of The Child

If the parent doesn't know the desire of his or her child, it will be harder for them to provide for their child's needs. The judge will take into consideration how familiar the parents are with their child's needs.

Check back next week for more of the factors considered in the best interest of children in divorce cases. If you're currently facing a child custody case in the metro Atlanta area, contact our experienced child custody attorneys at Daniel W. Mitnick & Associates, PC and we'll help make sure you and your child's rights are protected.