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Silhouette of a family divided onto two torn pieces of paper, representing child custody issues in New Jersey with a mother and child on one side, and a father and child on the other.

Child Custody in New Jersey | What You Need to Know

As you know, if you are a divorcing parent, retaining custody of your child is the most important thing. That being said, child custody is often hotly-contested, which is why you must continue reading and speak with an experienced New Jersey family law attorney to learn more about custody, how it is determined, and how our firm can help you through every step of the legal process ahead. Here are some of the questions you may have:

What are the two types of child custody in New Jersey?

There are two types of custody in the state of New Jersey: physical custody and legal custody. Physical custody deals with where the child lives, which legal custody gives a parent to have a say in certain key life decisions regarding the child. Some of those decisions include the type of religion the child practices, the types of medical treatment a child can receive, where the child goes to school, and more.

How do New Jersey courts determine which parent gets custody?

In many cases, New Jersey courts will split child custody evenly, and give joint custody to both parents. However, the primary factor that New Jersey courts will consider when determining child custody is the child’s best interests. Therefore, if they determine that it would be in the child’s best interests for one parent to have sole physical and legal custody of the child, they will do so. However, this only happens in rare instances where one parent proves him or herself parentally unfit either by having a substance abuse issue, exposing the child to an incident of domestic abuse, or other types of harmful behavior.

Can I modify my custody agreement in New Jersey?

Fortunately, if you are someone who was initially denied child custody, as long as you can prove that you have corrected the issue and are now ready and capable of caring for and raising your child, there is a very good chance that you can receive a child custody modification. That being said, you will have to retain the services of an experienced New Jersey family law attorney who can work to prove that you truly qualify for a modification. Our firm is here to help.

Contact our experienced Ocean City firm

Matters of divorce and family law require the attention and skill of an experienced attorney who will fight for your future. Not only is your financial well-being at stake, but in a divorce, both you and your children’s emotional well-being are at risk as well. If you need a divorce and family law attorney in Ocean County, New Jersey, please do not hesitate to contact the Law Office of Sarina Gianna, LLC today to schedule a consultation.