Fishers Child Custody Attorney

Create a Parenting Time Plan that Works for You & Your Children

Indiana recognizes two types of custody: physical custody and legal custody.

• Physical custody is where the child will reside the majority of the time. It can be granted to one parent solely or both parents jointly.
• Legal custody is who will make the significant decisions for the child, primarily regarding education, religion, and health-related matters. Like physical custody, the court can jointly award legal custody to one or both parents.

At Massillamany, Jeter & Carson LLP, we can help you protect and preserve your parent-child relationship after a divorce. Contact us online to learn more, or call us at (317) 434-1490.

How Indiana Determines Child Custody

In Indiana, the courts use the “best interest of the child” standard when making custody decisions. Courts are to consider eight (8) factors when determining what is in the child’s best interest. These eight factors are as follows:

1. age and sex of the child;
2. wishes of the child’s parent(s) and the child, with more consideration given if the child is over 14 years of age;
3. the interactions and interrelationships of the child with the parent(s), siblings, and any other person who may significantly affect the child’s best interest;
4. the child’s adjustment to the home, school, and community;
5. the mental and physical health of all individuals involved;
6. evidence of any history or pattern of domestic violence by either parent; and
7. whether the child has been primarily cared for by a third party.

Parenting Time in Fishers, Indiana

In Indiana, we call visitation with a child “parenting time.” Indiana’s legislature has guidelines that are often adopted, in whole or part, in many family law matters. Indiana’s Parenting Time Guidelines are here: http://www.in.gov/judiciary/rules/parenting/. After the court determines custody of the child, it will establish parenting time for the non-custodial parent. Of course, courts prefer that the parties agree upon a parenting schedule between themselves. Still, if that is not possible, the courts can order the non-custodial parent to exercise parenting time according to the guidelines.

In high-conflict situations, parties may request, and the court may appoint, a private Custody Evaluator to assist in determining custody and parenting time that is in the child’s best interest. A private Custody Evaluator is generally a psychologist or licensed mental health professional that conducts testing and interviews and provides recommendations based on their findings to the court as a report. In addition, other professionals may be engaged throughout your custody or parenting time matter, including Guardian ad Litems and Parenting Coordinators.

Contact Massillamany, Jeter & Carson LLP for Representation

At Massillamany, Jeter & Carson LLP, our Fishers child custody attorneys are highly experienced in parenting time matters and all other custody-related situations. Custody and parenting time conflicts can be highly stressful events in a person’s life. Therefore, we aim to make this process as easy as possible and help you conclude your matter efficiently.

Get started today by calling our team of child custody lawyers in Fishers at: (317) 434-1490.