Criminal Defense Lawyers

NYC Child Visitation Lawyers

Having a child is one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences of a person’s life. When two parents have to split up, though, that child often gets stuck in the middle. Questions arise concerning visitation and how often each parent will get to see the child. If you’re going through a divorce or you’re separating from your child’s parent, consider speaking with a NYC visitation attorney to learn about your options. This is a difficult time, but getting some help with the process can ease the changes a little bit.

Determining Custody

The first step to working out a visitation schedule is determining who will have custody of the child. Courts believe that, whenever possible, it’s in the best interest of the child to have both parents in his or her life. If it can be agreed to and if it’s safe for the child, the parents will share custody, or custody will alternate from one parent to the other. If this isn’t possible, one parent will have custody of the child. This is a delicate part of the separation process, and one that you will want an experienced lawyer to guide you through.

The Child’s Best Interest

When it comes to choosing custody, which will then influence visitation, the child’s best interest is the most important consideration. If one parent is much more capable of caring and providing for the child than the other parent, it’s likely that they will receive full custody, which means they’ll be spending the most time with the child.

The idea of “best interest” takes a lot of factors into consideration:

• Finances
• Safety
• Area school system
• Home life
• Stability and routine

It’s possible that a Guardian Ad Litem will be sent to both homes in order to investigate the conditions and decide if the child would be better off in one home over the other.

Christine Twomey

2024-03-21

Just had my Divorce case settled 2 months ago after having a horrible experience with another firm. I couldn’t be happier with Claire Banks and Elizabeth Garvey with their outstanding professionalism in doing so with Spodek Law Group. Any time I needed questions answered they were always prompt in doing so with all my uncertainties after 30 yrs of marriage.I feel from the bottom of my heart you will NOT be disappointed with either one. Thanks a million.

Brendan huisman

2024-03-18

Alex Zhik contacted me almost immediately when I reached out to Spodek for a consultation and was able to effectively communicate the path forward/consequences of my legal issue. I immediately agreed to hire Alex for his services and did not regret my choice. He was able to cover my case in court (with 1 day notice) and not only was he able to push my case down, he carefully negotiated a dismissal of the charge altogether. I highly recommend Spodek, and more specifically, Alex Zhik for all of your legal issues. Thanks guys!

Guerline Menard

2024-03-18

Thanks again Spodek law firm, particularly Esq Claire Banks who stood right there with us up to the finish line. Attached photos taken right outside of the court building and the smile on our faces represented victory, a breath of fresh air and satisfaction. We are very happy that this is over and we can move on with our lives. Thanks Spodek law 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙌🏼❤️

Keisha Parris

2024-03-15

Believe every single review here about Alex Z!! From our initial consultation, it was evident that Alex possessed a profound understanding of criminal law and a fierce dedication to his clients rights. Throughout the entirety of my case, Alex exhibited unparalleled professionalism and unwavering commitment. What sets Alex apart is not only his legal expertise but also his genuine compassion for his clients. He took the time to thoroughly explain my case, alleviating any concerns I had along the way. His exact words were “I’m not worried about it”. His unwavering support and guidance were invaluable throughout the entire process. I am immensely grateful for Alex's exceptional legal representation and wholeheartedly recommend his services to anyone in need of a skilled criminal defense attorney. Alex Z is not just a lawyer; he is a beacon of hope for those navigating the complexities of the legal system. If you find yourself in need of a dedicated and competent legal advocate, look no further than Alex Z.

Taïko Beauty

2024-03-15

I don’t know where to start, I can write a novel about this firm, but one thing I will say is that having my best interest was their main priority since the beginning of my case which was back in Winter 2019. Miss Claire Banks, one of the best Attorneys in the firm represented me very well and was very professional, respectful, and truthful. Not once did she leave me in the dark, in fact she presented all options and routes that could possibly be considered for my case and she reinsured me that no matter what I decided to do, her and the team will have my back and that’s exactly what happened. Not only will I be liberated from this case, also, I will enjoy my freedom and continue to be a mother to my first born son and will have no restrictions with accomplishing my goals in life. Now that’s what I call victory!! I thank the Lord, My mother, Claire, and the Spodek team for standing by me and fighting with me. Words can’t describe how grateful I am to have the opportunity to work with this team. I’m very satisfied, very pleased with their performance, their hard work, and their diligence. Thank you team!

Anthony Williams

2024-03-12

Hey, how you guys doing? Good afternoon my name is Anthony Williams I just want to give a great shout out to the team of. Spodek law group. It is such a honor to use them and to use their assistance through this whole case from start to finish. They did everything that they said they was gonna do and if it ever comes down to it, if I ever have to use them again, hands-down they will be the first law office at the top of my list, thank you guys so much. It was a pleasure having you guys by my side so if you guys ever need them, do not hesitate to pick up the phone and give them a call.

Loveth Okpedo

2024-03-12

Very professional, very transparent, over all a great experience

Bee L

2024-02-28

Amazing experience with Spodek! Very professional lawyers who take your case seriously. They treated me with respect, were always available, and answered any and all questions. They were able to help me very successfully and removed a huge stress. Highly recommend.

divesh patel

2024-02-24

I can't recommend Alex Zhik and Spodek Law Firm highly enough for their exceptional legal representation and personal mentorship. From the moment I engaged their services in October 2022, Alex took the time to understand my case thoroughly and provided guidance every step of the way. Alex's dedication to my case went above and beyond my expectations. His expertise, attention to detail, and commitment to achieving the best possible outcome were evident throughout the entire process. He took the time to mentor me, ensuring I understood the legal complexities involved to make informed decisions. Alex is the kind of guy you would want to have a beer with and has made a meaningful impact on me. I also want to acknowledge Todd Spodek, the leader of the firm, who played a crucial role in my case. His leadership and support bolstered the efforts of Alex, and his involvement highlighted the firm's commitment to excellence. Thanks to Alex Zhik and Todd Spodek, I achieved the outcome I desired, and I am incredibly grateful for their professionalism, expertise, and genuine care. If you're in need of legal representation, look no further than this outstanding team.

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Google rating score: 4.9 of 5, based on 736 reviews

Visitation Orders

If both parents are given custody, then there is no need for a visitation schedule – the idea is that both parents will be able to coordinate in order to raise their child, and therefore can work out when each parent will spend time with the child.

If shared custody isn’t possible, then one parent will have more time with the child, meaning a visitation schedule will have to be drafted for the other parent. Both parents are responsible for sticking to this visitation schedule – the parent with custody must make the child available during those times, and the non-custodial parent has to commit to showing up during the scheduled times. Should the court feel that the child is not entirely safe in the care of the non-custodial parent, they may require supervised visitation.

Not Following the Visitation Order

Once a visitation schedule has been worked out, the court will go over it and approve it, making it a legally-binding agreement between both parents. If one or both parents do not follow the agreement, they will be in contempt of the court. If multiple violations occur, the parent could even face jail time.

That said, though, it is important that both parents have enough flexibility to deal with last-minute changes. Things like extra work hours, sickness and vacations may alter the visitation schedule. Working these issues out peacefully and sticking to the normal schedule the rest of the time doesn’t mean that one parent is in contempt – it’s simply what happens during the course of life.

Denying Visitation

Unfortunately, it does happen that some parents opt to use their child in order to make more of a problem with the other parent. When you deny the non-custodial parent the visitation that you and the court agreed to, a contempt of court will likely be filed. The only way you can legally deny visitation after an agreement has been reached is with a court order.

Altering Visitation

If one parent feels that the child is unsafe during their non-supervised time with the other parent, they may want to alter the visitation schedule, which will require going back to court to have it officially changed. It is illegal to take matters into your own hands and deny the other parent the right to see their child.

Additionally, if there are changes to either parent’s schedule that affect visitation, it’s in everyone’s best interest to go to court to have the agreement officially changed. It’s tempting to alter the schedule on your own, especially if you’re getting along with the other parent, but it’s always best to have the court involved. While you are in charge of your child, the court is in charge of visitation and custody – should you need their help in the future, but you didn’t follow the guidelines of creating a visitation schedule, you won’t be in the best position.