North Carolina Child Custody, Support and Visitation
Raleigh-Durham family law attorney Rudy Renfer works closely with his clients to make sure that their short-term and long-range goals as parents are legally reasonable and promote the best interests of their children. If you're concerned that a child custody dispute or visitation problem might undermine your relationship with your children as a consequence of divorce, contact an experienced lawyer at the law firm of Rudolf E. Renfer, Attorney & Counselor at Law, P.A. in Raleigh.
Family court judges have wide discretion to rule on controversies between divorcing parents on child custody and visitation arrangements, so for many parents, a negotiated settlement of disputes as to primary physical custody and parenting schedules will be the best way to ensure that regular access to the children on favorable terms will be reflected in a divorce agreement.
In some cases, however, the facts of the case can make it difficult to resolve child custody disputes without going to court. We advise parents about their rights and responsibilities in high conflict situations such as the following:
- One or both parents has problems with alcohol or drug dependency
- One or both parents has a history of family violence or is bound by a protective order
- Temporary child custody or visitation arrangements have been violated or ignored
- One parent is undermining the authority of the other parent or otherwise interfering with the parent-child relationship
- Inability to furnish a safe home for the child
Sometimes lack of parenting skills can create problems in convincing the judge that a desired custody or visitation arrangement is in a child's best interests. We can help you get the most out of parenting classes and counseling sessions that can improve your performance as a parent whenever necessary. If the other parent whose skills are lacking, we can make sure that the court understands the nature of the specific problem so that effective steps can be taken to resolve it.
North Carolina law presumes that a healthy and supportive relationship with both parents is essential to the growth and development of every child. Part of our job is to help identify and address the factors that might threaten that relationship, so that you and your child can have a strong future together.
We also represent divorcing and divorced parents with problems concerning child support, enforcing child support orders in default and obtaining modification of child custody, support or visitation arrangements that no longer make sense in light of new circumstances.
For more information about our ability to serve the interests of you and your children in a child custody or child support case, contact Raleigh family law attorney Rudy Renfer.
