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Protecting Fathers’ Rights To Child Custody

It is a commonly held belief that when it comes to child custody, the mother always wins. While you could argue that mothers once had the advantage, courts in Washington and elsewhere have taken steps to even the playing field, acknowledging that it is usually best for children to have both parents in their life.

At Akiona Law, PLLC, in Everett, we support that notion. We believe in a father’s right to preserve his relationship with his child after divorce or separation. Our lawyers work as a team to give each one of the fathers we work with the best chance possible of being awarded joint custody and that often means working with your co-parent instead of fighting them.

What Does The Best Interests Of The Child Mean?

In Washington, the courts base child custody decisions on the best interests of the child. Under state law, the child’s best interests are upheld when their emotional, mental and physical well-being are supported and protected from harm.

In most situations, courts find it to be best for the children involved to have continued relationships with both of their parents. In rare circumstances in which a parent is deemed unfit — due to drug or alcohol addiction, for example — the court may prohibit one parent from seeing the child, or limit their interaction to visitation.

How Are Parenting Plans Determined?

The parenting plan is a crucial element of custody cases. You and your ex must come to an agreement on the terms or else a judge will decide custody for you. That is the last resort; going to trial is stressful, costly and time-consuming. Additionally, a judge does not know your family, so their interpretation of the relationships and parental fitness is what they will use to award custody. But you can skip this process. By working together and coming to an agreement on the parenting plan, you get to decide what is best for your family. We can help you through mediation or collaborative divorce.

The court considers numerous factors when determining or approving a custody arrangement. Some of the factors are:

What the children want, if they are old enough to express their opinion
Past parental behavior, including whether one parent acted as a primary caregiver during the marriage
The parents’ work schedules
How well each parent is able to care for the children
Where each parent lives
The health of both parents and all of the children

Meet Your Team. Schedule An Initial Consultation Today.

In addition to our Everett and Snohomish practice, we represent people in Seattle and King County. When you work with us, you have an entire team of attorneys on your side. We can help explain your rights and advocate for your continued relationship with your children. Call us at 425-740-2209 or submit an online contact form to arrange an initial consultation.

Our Testimonials

"I would recommend this firm in a heartbeat. In tough times, the firm reassured me and handled the big things along with the small. You guys have been awesome. I could not have asked for a better person to represent me. Thanks Lani and of course, all of the staff there. You guys have been top notch."

– T.N., Everett, WA

"Thank you all for the support and guidance that you gave me these past couple years! I wouldn't have been able to navigate this entire process without the Akiona Law team."

– Britney, Snohomish County client

"I wanted to thank everyone at Akiona Law for helping me out with my case and helping with receiving the best representation I can possibly get. Everyone was honest, upfront, and helpful with my situation and always gave straightforward advice on how to handle each situation."

– Cherry, Snohomish County

"The Akiona Law Team is professional, honest, reliable and knowledgeable! I’ve used them many times over the years and they’ve always helped me through my legal needs. They are responsive and provide me with information and options at every turn in my case so I feel fully informed and comfortable before taking the next step. I’d refer Akiona Law to family and friends in a heartbeat!"

– C.W.

"Everyone at Akiona Law, thank you so much for your help on my case! I so appreciate all the work that you've done!"

– Snohomish County, divorce client

“Going through a divorce is never easy, and mine was particularly challenging for several reasons. However, the team at Akiona Law was a beacon of support throughout the entire process.
They were incredibly patient and understanding, even when I was stressed and emotional. (Let's just say, I wasn't always the easiest client to deal with!) Special thanks to Beckie, the paralegal, whose calm demeanor kept me grounded during a very crazy time.
I truly appreciate the hard work and dedication of the entire Akiona Law team. They made a difficult situation much more manageable. I highly recommend!“

- Kevin, Everett, WA