When a couple with children chooses to break up or file for divorce, they are faced with the decision of how to best split the custody of their children. This is often the most difficult and emotionally charged element of a divorce. It is natural for a parent to want to see their children as often as possible. However, this becomes difficult when, for example, sole custody is awarded to a parent.
A well-structured visitation agreement should be created with your children’s best interest in mind. The uncertainties and stressors that accompany a divorce can quickly put undue emotional strain on the whole family. For this reason, hiring a lawyer to help reach a fair agreement has both logistical and emotional benefits for you and your children.
An experienced visitation lawyer will evaluate your situation and walk you through the process so that you feel confident that both you and your child’s interests are being considered. The child visitation lawyers at Arenson Law Group, PC have been working on behalf of Iowa families for years. We understand that seeking out the support of an attorney can be a difficult decision to make for those going through a divorce. With this understanding, we lead with compassion and understanding.
Our attorneys can help establish and enforce visitation agreements after a divorce. Our Cedar Rapids team is interested in providing the most beneficial situation for the child(ren) involved by protecting your parental rights. To discuss your situation with a member of our team, call (319) 363-8199 today.
Do I Need a Visitation Attorney?
An experienced visitation attorney can provide support for families facing a variety of challenges. While some couples can reach an amicable agreement regarding child custody and visitation, this simply isn’t the case for all Iowa families. If you and your ex-spouse disagree on what’s in the best interest of your child, an attorney can step in and advocate for you.
Each divorce is unique, and as such, visitation decisions can be significantly impacted by the structure of your divorce, whether it is mediated, collaborative, or contested in court. Whether you are protecting your rights as the non-custodial parent, setting clear boundaries to protect your child’s best interest, or you need the guidance of a professional with a comprehensive understanding of Iowa family law, a visitation attorney can be a crucial source of support for you at this time.
To be clear, though it is natural for emotions to be amplified when making visitation decisions, legal support can be beneficial to couples who have a decent relationship. Based on your unique situation, a lawyer can educate you on your options and help you pursue the outcome that is best for your family and your children.
Why Hire Arenson Law Group, PC to Handle My Case?
While you certainly have a choice of qualified visitation lawyers in Iowa, when you are looking for the right attorney, numerous qualities separate the Arenson Law Group, PC from the rest. Our lawyers are:
- Forward-thinking – When helping Iowa families, our visitation attorneys are supportive, decisive, and compassionate. Even if you’ve been through a divorce before, each situation is unique and challenging in its own right. Our lawyers apply our ever-evolving knowledge to benefit your family.
- Experienced – Our training, experience, and ability to connect with each client allows us to fight for your best interests. Listening and empathizing with you gives us greater insight into your situation so that we can tailor a bold, progressive approach that fits your needs.
- Expedient – When you hire us, we put our experience to work for you in order to achieve an expedient resolution. For many people going through a divorce, the process can feel like an endurance test, draining financially, physically, and emotionally. We are here to make sure that we reach a visitation agreement that works for your family as quickly as possible.
- Compassionate – Working with families going through divorces reinforces how important structure is, especially for children. The sooner we reach a satisfactory outcome regarding your visitation plan, the sooner your children can adjust to their new reality.
- Accessible – An vital part of knowing that your legal situation is progressing is being able to contact your attorney. When you hire Arenson Law Group, PC, you will be able to reach your attorney on their cell phone. Your case is important to us, and we want you to have access to our lawyers when you need it.
Types of Visitation We Cover
Visitation guidelines will differ from situation to situation dependent on several factors, including the stability of the parents involved and prior relationships with the child. Child visitation law can be complicated, as such our Cedar Rapids family law attorneys can help you understand the following:
- Noncustodial Parent Visitation
- Supervised Visitation
- Grandparents Visitation
- Parenting Agreements
While deciding on visitation and parental rights are incredibly important terms surrounding a divorce, visitation issues may need to be revisited years after a divorce. As families, parents, and children evolve, the once-agreed upon terms of a divorce may no longer be a good fit. To modify your visitation arrangement, you will need to prove a significant change in your circumstances. Changes circumstances may include relocation, a child expressing wishes contrary to the initial agreement, and one parent’s noncompliance with the set agreement.
At Arenson Law Group, PC, our visitation attorneys understand the importance of providing your child a safe and happy home. If you are in the Cedar Rapids area, we want to help you protect your family by representing you.
Frequently Asked Child Visitation Questions
An experienced child visitation attorney can help ease the fear and pain that you may feel if you are not awarded custody of your children following a divorce. The thought of not seeing your children every day and not being able to make individual decisions about their lives can be painful, but a well-structured visitation schedule can ease this pain and may ensure that you remain a large part of your children’s lives. The child visitation attorneys of Arenson Law Group, PC are committed to fighting for your interests and keeping your children as close to you as possible. We have provided the following frequently asked questions to help explain some of your legal options, but there is no substitute for speaking with an attorney. We are here for you, and we are ready to help. Contact us at (319) 363-8199 to discuss your situation with one of our qualified family attorneys today.
How is Child Visitation Determined?
Child visitation is often a highly contested and very volatile issue for divorced ex-spouses. Setting a proper visitation schedule requires a lot of planning, thought, and care. While the court recognizes that the non-custodial parent deserves to spend time with their children to preserve that all-important parent-child bond, there are specific considerations that must be taken into account when determining visitation rights. Contrary to popular belief, the court does not take into account whether or not the individual is remarried, whether or not they are employed, or whether or not they have paid child support. Instead, the court typically considers the following:
- Whether or not the non-custodial parent has spent a significant amount of time with the child in the past
- Whether or not the child has had overnight visits with the other parent
- The home and living conditions that the non-custodial parent will provide to the child
- Any history of abuse, neglect, or other considerations that may affect the awarding of visitation rights
- Location of the non-custodial parent’s home in relation to the custodial parent
- How long the non-custodial parent has been fighting for visitation rights, or how long they waited until requesting visitation
Once the court takes into account these considerations, and once all of the critical questions have been answered, visitation will likely be awarded or denied. The only way to ensure that your rights and interests are properly protected is by hiring an experienced child visitation lawyer who knows how to build a strong case on your behalf. Don’t wait until it is too late to fight for visitation, contact an attorney of Arenson Law Group, PC at (319) 363-8199 today.
Does it matter if I have sole custody or joint custody? How does this affect visitation?
Not having sole custody often means that the residential parent will be able to make many of the day-to-day decisions about the child’s life on their own, without input from the other parent. These decisions typically involve daily activities like scholastic or extracurricular activities or decisions about which doctor or dentist the child goes to. Both parents must make bigger decisions, and your attorney can discuss the difference between custody orders and parenting agreements.
It is important to remember that regardless of the custody arrangement, the non-custodial parent still has a right to see their child. The courts will work hard to make sure that non-custodial parents still get to see their children, and depending on the specific circumstances (geographic location, districts for school, and others) they will work to allow as close to 50% custody as possible for each parent.
How can I fight for visitation rights?
The best way to start fighting for your visitation rights is to contact a family lawyer right away. Because the attorney you choose can have a strong effect on the outcome of your visitation claim, it is crucial to select an attorney who has experience with these cases and isn’t merely trying it out or practicing family law on the side. You need a proven lawyer who has fought for and secured visitation rights for parents just like you. That’s why so many people have turned to the attorneys of Arenson Law Group, PC for help. We have fought and won visitation rights for parents in your exact situation, and we are ready to do so for you as well.
How are Custody Terms Enforced?
In order to enforce the terms of a custody agreement in Iowa, you must file a court action against the noncompliant parent. According to Iowa Code section 598.23, In the event that the court finds that the noncompliant parent has violated the terms of your agreement, they may be found in contempt. This violation can be accompanied by 30 days in jail.
Contact a Cedar Rapids Visitation Lawyer Today
If you and your ex-spouse are having difficulties determining the appropriate visitation or enforcing the agreement in place, please contact the family lawyers at Arenson Law Group, PC. Our Cedar Rapids visitation attorneys are experienced in all types of child custody situations. Call (319) 363-8199 today for more information about how we can help you.
Written by James H. Arenson
Last Updated : March 8, 2024