Abbie Reynolds is a Los Angeles yoga instructor who is approaching 40 and has been burned by too many past relationships. Robbie Whitaker is a gay, aging Hollywood playboy who works as a gardener and has become Abbie’s best friend. Their relationship takes a different turn when, after the funeral of a mutual friend who has died of AIDS, Abbie and Robbie get rip-roaring drunk and end up in bed together. Now that Abbie is pregnant and Robbie is still gay, the two decide to live together and form a happy family for the unborn Sam. However trouble arises when, six years later, Abbie falls in love with New York investment banker Ben and Robbie is forced to fight them for custody of Sam. Plot Keywords: Break Up, Father Son Relationship, Courtroom, Video Camera, Divorce Attorney, Gay Son, Watching TV, Best Friend, Female Lawyer, Group Of Friends, Breakfast, Beauty Pageant, Car Wash, Grandmother Grandson Relationship, Female Judge, Moving Out, Cigarette Smoking, Recording Studio, Swimming Pool, Waitress, Platonic Love, Kitchen Scene, Construction Site, Mother Son Relationship, Parrot, Custody Battle, Dancing, Diner Scene, Cemetery, Fourth Of July, Gay Friend, Dressing Room, Embarrassment, Face Slap, Beach, Airport, Soul Mates, Fast Food, Greenhouse, AIDS, Booger, Divorce, Family Life, Homosexual, Love Triangle, Yoga, Gay Interest, Gay Parent, Amusement Park, Cardiologist, Child Custody, Child, Friendship, Funeral, Gardener, Investment Banker, Jealousy, Judge, Lawyer, Los Angeles California, Pregnancy, Record Producer, Female Nudity, Single Mother, Gay Slur.

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“In the best interest of the child” or “child’s best interest” is the famous mantra of the family court, which is prevalent in child custody proceedings today, yet its interpretation by the family court or judges is often arbitrary and its meaning is still obscure. Moreover, the law regarding child custody varies from state to state leaving no uniform legal position regarding what is in the best interest of the child. Some states have a preference and presumption towards joint custody while others do not. Some states are amending its law to adopt a preference and presumption for joint custody while others are amending its law to allow joint custody only when the parents agree to it.

Like most states the standard for child custody determination in California is the overall best interest of the child such that it assures the “health, safety, and welfare” of the child and “frequent and continuing contact” with both parents. However, California does not establish a preference or a presumption for or against joint custody or custody to one parent and therefore leaves the parenting plan decision up to the discretion of the family court or a judge. In 1979, California adopted a presumption for joint custody, but later amended the law in 1994 to allow joint custody only when the parents agreed to it. According to the American Bar Association, other states such as Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, Vermont, and Washington also adopted laws in favor of joint custody, but only when the parents agreed to it. Other states such as the District of Columbia, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and Texas, have laws favoring a presumption for joint custody. In a few other states, joint custody is not specifically authorized.

Regardless of each states position for or against a presumption or preference in favor of joint custody and whether or not it has been specifically authorized, overall there appears to be a growing trend in favor of joint custody and more and more bills being introduced to adopt a presumption for joint custody being in the best interest of the child unless certain circumstances apply, such as convincing evidence that a parent is unfit or it would not be in the best interest of the child to award joint custody.

If you are involved in a child custody dispute, whether it is the initial child custody determination or a child custody modification, you would be wise to consult a family law attorney in your jurisdiction to help you learn what the law and standard for custody determinations is in your area and how it applies to your specific situation. Further you will want to learn what factors the court will consider in determining the best interest of the child so you are fully aware of your child custody rights and responsibilities.

Copyright © 2007 Child Custody Coach

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We all want the best for our kids, whether it’s the best schools, the best opportunities and even the best arrangements when it comes to child custody. The first thing we must realize is that cutting our ex spouse out of our child’s life in order to hurt the spouse is NOT what’s best for the child.

Never keep your child away from your spouse because you are angry at them. Your child could end up resenting you or being very hurt because they’re unable to see their other parent. Once you understand this, there are some other great tips to negotiate the best arrangement for your child.

Try to Compromise with Your Spouse – The best kind of arrangement is one where you and your spouse are able to see the kids equally. Of course, they will need one stable environment to reside at during the week, but perhaps your spouse could see them daily by offering to drive them home from school. By compromising with your spouse and removing your feelings from the situation when you’re negotiating, you can arrange what is absolutely best for your kids.

The Primary Residence or Guardian – Typically, if parents can’t decide who the child will primarily reside with, the judge decides based on several things. For the most part, the person who has been the child’s primary caretaker for most of his or her life will have a good chance of becoming the primary guardian. This may mean the person who has handled school issues, doctor or medical appointments and other important things. The judge will also take into consideration who is best able to provide for the child and similar important factors. Remember this when you’re negotiating the best arrangement for your child.

If Your Child is Over the Age of 11 – When your child is around the age of 11 or older, he or she may have a large say so in where they stay. What is your child’s opinion and who does he or she desire to live with? You should definitely take this into account because in the event that you and your spouse cannot decide where the child should live, the judge will want to hear from your child. Of course, the judge will not put the child with a parent that is unfit, even if the child desires to be with them, but the child’s opinion will greatly affect the custody case.

Be Reasonable – If your spouse is a good parent, do not be against the idea of visitation. If there is no reason why you should want to keep your spouse away from their kids other than because you want to, the judge will not think you’re being reasonable or fair and it could look bad for you. Also, your spouse’s attorney could grasp onto that and make it seem as if you’re trying to hurt your spouse and your children because of your own childish emotions.

Although divorce is difficult and custody cases sometimes become nasty, these tips will help you know how to negotiate the best possible arrangement for your child. By taking these into consideration, you will be better able to negotiate to the type of arrangement you want, your child wants and your spouse wants.

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It is a turning point for most of the families to encounter problems. This is an unavoidable circumstance that everybody should face. However, the worst effect bumps back to the children.

If only it is possible to obtain a perfect marriage for all of the couples out there, then there will be no problem. Maintaining a harmonious relationship inside and out is not an easy task to deal with. There will always be a time that certain misunderstanding arises within the family.

Typically, the ultimate resort that parents turn to is to apply for divorce. This can’t be the best alternative but it is the common choice they prefer. In spite of its drawback which is the stressful intricacy for the parents and the hardship on the part of the children, they cannot do anything about it.

Aside from the conjugal properties that they have to argue, child custody is an important aspect of divorce. This is a battle that seems traumatic for either of the parties.

Now, what is child custody all about? Simply, it refers to any case that constitutes a child safety, adoption and supervision, termination of parental rights or deliberate placement of your child. Proceedings can be push through in accordance to specified grounds.

In Colorado, child custody arrangements vary depending on the circumstantial factors surrounding the case. It also follows the standard rule as stipulated on its code. Child custody is a complicated matter, thus the order is considered confidential at all cost.

Besides divorce cases, other circumstances can also be taken into account to determine the right time of filing child custody proceedings. You may contest it by appearing in court and filing the prescribed legal papers that will help you in your quest for justifying your rights.

During the hearing, the court will hear on the pieces of evidence that will be presented by both the involved parties. This will aid them in determining whether a child custody and support determination must be thoroughly modified or not.

Colorado lawyers make it clear for the complainants that though one of the parents was the child’s caretaker it does not always follow that the person will be granted the custody award. Bear in mind that being a caretaker is not always a guarantee.

If it talks about divorce, the verdict of child custody will depend on the decision of the judges. Nevertheless, the court must always arrive on a certain ruling that the bottom line of the custody is towards the best interest of the child. The court has the sole power to determine the matter unless a child reaches the age of 18.

Searching for the most credible lawyers in Colorado is not quite hard. In fact, some of the firms are also offering services for the parents who are filing complaints regarding child custody. The proceeding is also made faster and easier for the clients. It is just a matter of clicking on the website of the firms. From there, you can find the probable lawyer that will meet your needs. They will also charge you very minimal fees as compared to other firms.

There are even lawyers who can render their service for free especially those that are members of organizations fighting for the general welfare of the children. These organizations uphold the wellbeing of the children involved more than anything else.

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Every Wisconsin child custody lawyer knows that this is one of the cases where people are likely to do things that they have not done before or thought they are not capable of. With divorce and child custody cases not having the satisfactory results that they should have, parents turn to desperate means of getting their children back.

For sure, you do not want these things to happen. Not only will it have negative effects on your child, it will also cause you more trouble than you originally have. The best and the only solution for this problem is to avail of the services of good Wisconsin child custody lawyer.

Lawyers in Wisconsin are already aware of the fact that parents tend to kidnap their children and take them as far away from the other parent as possible one their child custody case has not been served well. This is the only way to do it because these parents know that their children are better off with them.

Sometimes the law is not always in favor of those who want to win. As they say, you can never win them all. But if you have a Wisconsin child custody lawyer to help you in the proceedings, then you will realize that whatever decision the court have made is what is best. And since you have presented a likewise good case, you will definitely be assured that justice have been done, even if it is not for your favor.

In the process of your divorce file, it is important that you hire a Wisconsin lawyer with enough knowledge about how child custody works. It follows that after the divorce has been filed, what follows next would be the battle on who should have the custody of the children.

This is the very same reason why the Wisconsin lawyer you choose should have the expertise and experience in handling child custody cases. Take note that the decision that will be made is not on a temporary basis. It will dictate the future that your children will have for the rest of their lives. If you love your children that much, you will go through all the measures to ensure that will be put in the proper place that they deserve.

The Wisconsin child custody lawyer should know enough about certain laws that apply for certain situations. For example, there are laws that are being followed by authorities whenever a child is kidnapped by his or her parent.

The lawyer should tell the parents about those states that do not allow authorities to recover the child if he is in the hands of another parent. Knowing about these things will make the parents aware of precautions that should be taken to avoid this kind of situation from happening.

The Wisconsin child custody lawyer should also dictate the desperate steps that parents are capable of with regards to getting their children. This will evidently prepare them for any unfortunate things from happening. Anticipation is better than being surprised and frustrated when disputes occur.

A Wisconsin child custody lawyer that has the necessary experience needed in solving disputes that might arise is what you should look for. As far the reasoning is concerned, you should be aware of the things that will help you win your case, but also the things that you need to do after the case is finished. Only your Wisconsin lawyer has the capability to tell you about what and what you should not do.

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If you require a child custody lawyer, Columbus, GA, has some of the finest in the nation. Divorce is never something that two people anticipate when getting into a marriage, but it happens with more than half of all marriages. When children are involved in a divorce proceeding, a child custody lawyer could be instrumental in ensuring the most suitable outcome.

The fact of the matter is that divorce is, oftentimes, more difficult on the children than it is on the parents who are actually getting divorced. As such, it is of utmost importance to consider what is best for the children in the situation. A child custody lawyer is best equipped to help you find the best resolution for your children.

There are many possibilities when it comes to child custody, and a lawyer who specializes in these cases understands the full range of options. Your attorney will help you evaluate your situation to determine which parent is best equipped to take custody. In some instances, one of the parents is clearly unsuitable to parent, and it is important, here, to ensure that the children do not end up with such a parent.

Other times, however, the case is not so clear and both parents may be equally suitable for parenting. These cases may call for joint or shared custody, and you will require assistance in order to help reach terms that you can live with.

Even if you think you agree with your soon to be ex-spouse on the terms of the child custody, the chances are great that disagreements will arise. To protect yourself, you need a child custody lawyer in Columbus, GA, on your side from the very beginning. When something as important as your children’s future is on the line, there is no justification for cutting corners.

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When a divorce or dissolution of marriage is brought before the family court, child visitation is considered at the same time and according to similar factors as child custody. The term stands for the time in which the non-custodial parent is allowed to meet or visit with his/her child. However, under certain circumstances a parent can be denied child visitation or child custody in the case of sole physical custody. Child visitation is often associated with the term “parenting plan,” which typically outlines the type of legal custody and physical custody of each parent and can also define when the child is to visit or be with the non-custodial parent. Parents can reach such an agreement on their own, this is the best case, or the court can decide on this matter, which is often the worst case scenario.

Typically, the best situation for a child in a divorce, child custody, and child visitation matter is when both parents manage to solve their personal differences to reach an agreement or parenting plan or child visitation schedule out of court. In this case, any agreements reached between both parents can become the parenting plan. When a parenting plan is created and child visitation and child custody issues are resolved, it may not require anymore matters to be brought to the court even if the child is very young. A decade ago, the family courts would often give infant visitation guidelines preventing the non-custodial parent from spending a lot of time with his/her child. Such provisions are not valid anymore, but rather frequent and continuous contact with both parents is encouraged. Off court agreements does not necessarily need to be translated in a written contract and signed by both parents. However, parents may be well advised to have a written and signed parenting plan for future reference in case a child custody or child visitation dispute arises. It can also be used as a stipulation between both parties and then issued as a court order for future enforcement purposes.

Now, what if the parents are not able to reach an agreement on child visitation or child custody? Both parents will often be required to participate in a mediation process before having a court hearing or before a judge hears the case. Typically, the two parents will be assisted to work out a parenting plan by a third-party or mediator, who can be an experienced attorney or social worker. Many child visitation and child custody issues find a happy ending through mediation sessions resulting in a parenting plan agreement, which can then be presented as a stipulation ad then as a court order.

Generally, the worst case is when mediation fails. In this situation, the next step is typically for a court hearing in order to solve the issues. Judges nowadays often require custody evaluations of the family by experts in the field of child psychiatry, psychology or mental health. Licensed social workers can also be called to present evidence for consideration by the court. Once all pieces of evidence have been presented, the court will typically make its decision. This is the worst case child custody and child visitation dispute method because it can be very complex, expensive, and long-draw out. In some highly contested child custody and child visitation cases, child custody and child visitation disputes will eventually result in denying child custody and child visitation rights to one of the parent.

© 2007 Child Custody Coach

Child Custody Coach supplies information, online materials, and coaching services to parents in the field of child custody, namely, divorce, child custody and visitation, child custody evaluations, 730 evaluations, parenting, and all issues related to child custody and divorce. “How to Win Child Custody – Proven Strategies that can Win You Custody and Save You Thousands in Attorney Cost!” is a unique child custody strategy guide written by The Custody Coach and made available by Child Custody Coach in an easy to read, understand, and apply E-Book format. Custody Match is an online consumer and family law attorney matching service to help you in your search for the right attorney for your divorce or child custody case. Custody Match can help you find the right family law attorney, divorce lawyer, or child custody attorney in your area.

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