The process of formal court hearings to rule on custody tends to take much longer, and the judge handling the case ultimately has to determine the best interests of the child.
Yuma, AZ – Child custody can take some time, depending on family specifics and other matters being contested. In most cases, this can take anywhere from a few months to a year. However, anyone facing a custody battle is always advised to seek legal assistance to protect their interests and those of their children.
Settlement Agreements for Custody Matters
By far the easiest and fastest way to resolve custody issues is for the two parents to come to an agreement on all custody issues, reach an agreement, and let the courts review and validate their parental plan. Ideally, the parents even have more control over their wishes and custody needs through a comparison than through going to court. This is because they have more control over the details and may only get assistance from a professional to assist with the negotiation process. After the documents and negotiations are complete, all relevant documents must be submitted and approved. But a settlement is also a legally binding document, so parents must be careful to follow it carefully.
Custody matters decided in court
The process of formal court hearings to determine custody usually takes much longer and the judge handling the case ultimately has to determine the best interests of the child and draw up the final custody plan. Before going to court, each parent should have their own attorney to go through the process, develop a litigation strategy, and see if any negative aspects of the parent’s past have come up.
The attorneys must file the appropriate documents with the local family court system to initiate the case. The process may be slightly different depending on whether the parents are married or not, divorcing, and whether a paternity test is required. There may be a delay between the filing of the documents and the response from the defendant parent or spouse, as they have twenty days to respond. Arizona also requires that a mandatory parenting course be attended within 45 days of the start of the formal hearing.
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Once the case is pending, the length of time may vary depending on the amount of information being sorted as well as the number of issues being challenged by each parent.
Advice from family lawyers in Arizona
Schneider and Onofry is a trusted family law law firm serving people in the Yuma area. Your attorneys can assist with hearings on custody, divorce, alimony, and other related issues.
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