When it comes to determining custody of your children, the court unfortunately does not care about what is best for you. The court's only concern is the best interests of your children. Our job as attorneys representing you in a child custody dispute is to ensure that your goal is expressed in those terms.

At The Mathews Group, LC, our lawyers guide men and women through the legal process of determining child custody and visitation (also known as parenting time). Schedule a consultation online with a Mathews Group attorney to discuss your case. From our law office in Leawood, KS, we represent clients throughout the Kansas City metro area in Kansas and Missouri.

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Five Reasons to Choose The Mathews Group, LC

1. Flat-Fees reduce uncertainty about costs, and provide peace of mind, versus
2. Our Family Law Attorneys only practice Family Law
3. Recipient of the Client's Choice Awards for Divorce and Child Custody
4. Avvo Ratings of Superb for Divorce and Child Custody
5. "A" Rating from the Better Business Bureau and Lead Counsel Rated in the "blank check" policy used by other firms Family Law

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When children are involved, our goal as your attorneys is to keep your divorce as civil as possible. If you carry a lot of animosity toward your ex, your kids will pick up on it - and be hurt by it. It's important to love your kids more than you hate your ex.

Child Custody in Kansas and Missouri

When both parents are able and appropriate parents to their children, the court will usually grant joint legal custody. Remember that legal custody doesn't refer to where the children live or how much parenting time each parent has with the children. Legal custody refers to the right of both parents to act as parents to their children. This includes access to education and medical records and equal say in parenting decisions.

Parenting Time in Kansas and Missouri

Parenting time is another word for visitation. Courts usually prefer that children spend more time at one home than another. This allows the child to have a "home base," rather than simply living out of a suitcase. In Kansas, this is referred to as primary residential custody. Missouri no longer uses this term, but one home will be designated as the child's address for educational and mailing purposes.

Beyond that, the best parenting plans are those that parents develop together. Your own particular situation and schedules will dictate what parenting time arrangement is best. It is important to remember that we are not talking about mom's time with the children and dad's time with the children. We are talking about the children's time with mom and dad. It is their parenting time, and the courts will do everything in their power to be certain that the parenting plan is, first and foremost, in the best interest of the kids.

Child custody and visitation modifications:

Often, the original plan entered by a court for child custody, visitation or support does not work out as well as planned. Sometimes this is due to changes in circumstances for the parties, and sometimes it is the result of agreements that simply don't work as well as planned. Whatever the reason, know that any case involving a child is an open case until the child is emancipated. That means that the court retains jurisdiction over child custody, visitation and support, and all of these issues can be modified as necessary to best suit the interests of the child.

Overland Park Child Visitation Agreement Attorney

You will never be charged for your initial consultation with a Kansas City child custody attorney at our firm. We encourage you to schedule a free consultation online or call us at 913-660-0664 to discuss your case today.