Columbia Child Custody Attorney

Determining Child Custody in South Carolina

The family courts in Columbia follow one guiding principle in determining which parent will receive child custody: the best interests of the children. Neither parent is automatically entitled to receive custody, and the court will weigh both the father's rights and the mother's rights equally, evaluating each party's ability to provide a stable and safe home environment for the children. If you and your spouse are unable to settle the issue out of court, the judge will be called upon to decide for you, in which case it is vital to have a proven Columbia divorce attorney on your side to defend your ability to maintain your role in your children's lives.

If parents seeking a divorce cannot reach an agreement on the terms and nature of custody, they will have to see the matter resolved in Columbia's family court. The court will take a number of factors into account to determine custody or visitation schedules. The benefits of living with a parent, or the risks posed in spending time with another, often have a strong influence on determining who will maintain custody of the child.

Child Custody Factors

• The child's medical needs
• The child's emotional maturity
• Indication of domestic violence
• Indication of physical or sexual abuse
• The child's preference for a parent

Whether any or all of these factors are taken into consideration when determining custody, the decision will always fall in favor of your child's well-being.

Child Custody Through Paternity Actions

Are you a father of a child born out of wedlock? If you have decided that you want to assume a role in your child's life and to take part in the duties of upbringing, a Columbia divorce lawyer from our team may be able to help you bring a paternity action, using DNA testing and other means to legally establish yourself as the child's father. By doing so, you could petition the family court for rights of custody or visitation, allowing you the opportunity of building a relationship with your child.

Contact Masella Law Firm, P.A.

At Masella Law Firm, P.A., we have a breadth of legal experience, and have helped countless people in your situation in pursuing a favorable resolution. Whether you are concerned about being denied the right to shared custody or if you are anxious to prevent your spouse from having access to your children due to a history of domestic violence, we will work closely with you throughout the divorce process and seek to settle the matter in your favor. It is also possible to petition for a custody modification if you have reason to believe that your children are unsafe with the other parent or if you want to expand your rights of visitation to some form of joint custody.