In Oregon and Washington, a judge may take several key factors into account when making a decision on a child custody agreement or parenting time schedule. For example, they may consider things like:
In Oregon, child custody is broken down into Legal Custody and Physical Custody. Legal Custody is the legal term used for the formal decision making power over a minor child, while Physical Custody is which home is designated as the primary residence.
Physical custody isn’t usually an all-or-nothing situation. Most parents come up with parenting time plans that share visitation rights and responsibilities — but the allocations can vary widely. For some families a 50/50 split works well whereas for other families a 30/70 split is optimal.
This is why parenting time schedules are based upon the best interest of the child and are determined on a case-by-case basis. Each family’s needs and constraints must be factored in. Ideally, the resulting arrangement suits everyone’s schedule, accommodates distances, and so on.
With our lawyers on the task, you can count on arriving at a parenting time schedule that works for your family and has your child’s welfare at the core.
Typically part of the custody settlement, child support is a sum of money paid by one parent to the other parent to help with the expenses related to caring for the child.
Because child support is such a significant component of the childcare agreement, you need a pro to ensure your and your child’s interests are prioritized and a fair outcome is reached. Your Gevurtz Menashe attorney can help you:
“After researching and interviewing several divorce attorneys, I came to the conclusion that Shawn (Menashe) would be the best attorney to represent me. From the first meeting, Shawn took the time to answer all of my questions and helped me understand the divorce process. Shawn is well-versed in complicated and high-stress divorces. Throughout my complex divorce, Shawn gave sound advice and led the way with confidence and a wealth of knowledge. I felt well-represented and extremely supported throughout the entire case. I would highly recommend Shawn whether you have a straightforward divorce or one that is complicated and demanding.”
Full custody, also known as sole custody, is awarded to the Primary Caregiver and is when only one parent (or guardian) is given the rights and responsibilities of the legal and physical care of a child. Gevurtz Menashe can assist you with all custody matters.
In both Oregon and Washington, there’s no obligation for a court to consider a child’s input and a child under the age of 18 has no legal decision-making rights. However, many judges will listen to a child’s wishes and factor that into their ruling.
A parent may be deemed “unfit” if they conduct themselves in ways that are harmful to a child or can’t properly care for the child. Some common examples include abusive behavior, use of illegal substances, neglect, and certain mental health conditions.
It depends on how complex the case is, how quickly parties respond, and any other conditions the court requires (e.g.,taking parenting classes). Due to the many unique variables it is impossible to predict.
