Protecting The Best Interests Of Children In Everett And Snohomish County

Your child is not only your top priority, it is that of the judge in family court as well. Any rulings a judge makes with regard to child custody and parenting time come back to whether or not the child will benefit from those decisions. Gone are the days of primary custody automatically going to the mother in divorce proceedings. Family courts are predisposed to preserve relationships between both parents and the child.

Leaving a custody decision up to a judge, however, is risky and may not yield results that truly benefit the children. After all, the judge does not know your children like you do. It is better if you and your co-parent can work together to create a custody plan that is best for your family.

Transforming Conflict Into Resolution

At Akiona Law, PLLC, we can help you make decisions with the best interests of your child(ren) in mind, whether that involves questions of joint custody versus sole custody, physical custody versus legal custody, initial divorce proceedings or post-divorce modifications. We focus on amicable divorces, including making the process easier on your children. We find that through mediation or collaborative law, families make better choices by coming to an agreement on custody.

Contact us online or by telephone at 425-740-2209 for experienced representation from attorneys who care about doing what is right for you and your family. We proudly represent people from Everett and Snohomish County as well as Seattle and King County.

What Constitutes The “Best Interests Of The Child”?

Every child has different needs during divorce proceedings. The court will consider information presented about:

• Familial relationships that affect the child’s emotional well-being, including those between biological parents and child, grandparents and child, siblings and extended family members
• Stability offered in different settings, which could include whether or not certain custody rulings will cause the child to be uprooted from his or her existing social group
• The ability of each parent to provide proper living standards with adequate food, clothing, shelter and safety
• Mental, physical and emotional needs of the child, and the parent’s mental, physical and emotional capacity to meet those needs
• Safety issues such as those related to domestic violence, abuse and neglect

It is important that during this emotional time, you remain well informed and rely on your lawyer’s counsel. We work to keep families out of court, thereby limiting the emotional upheaval that children may be experiencing.

Ensure That Your Interests And The Interests Of Your Child Are Protected

With more than a decade of experience in Washington family law, our attorneys can provide the representation you need to help you resolve issues in child-related divorces. Please contact us online or call 425-740-2209 for an initial consultation in your case.