Child Custody and Time Sharing
Legal custody speaks to the right and obligation to make major decisions on behalf of your children. These decisions include where your children will live, what religion they will practice, where they will attend school, what medical providers they will see, and the extracurricular/recreational activities in which they will participate.
In contested custody cases, particularly those involving allegations of parental unfitness or requests to relocate, it is often necessary for a custody evaluation to be performed in order to determine the best interests of the children. In some cases, it is more helpful for a Guardian ad Litem to be appointed to represent the best interests of your children.
The attorneys at Leigh & Dougherty Family Law can assist you in developing a custody and timesharing arrangement that will serve your children’s best interests and, if necessary, can skillfully assist you in selecting the proper professional so that a suitable custody and timesharing arrangement can be implemented.
In contested custody cases, particularly those involving allegations of parental unfitness or requests to relocate, it is often necessary for a custody evaluation to be performed in order to determine the best interests of the children. In some cases, it is more helpful for a Guardian ad Litem to be appointed to represent the best interests of your children.
The attorneys at Leigh & Dougherty Family Law can assist you in developing a custody and timesharing arrangement that will serve your children’s best interests and, if necessary, can skillfully assist you in selecting the proper professional so that a suitable custody and timesharing arrangement can be implemented.
Grandparent Visitation
When a child’s parents refuse to allow a child to see or have contact with his/her grandparents, grandparents have the right to ask the judge for visitation with their grandchild.
The attorneys at Leigh & Dougherty Family Law can assist you in exercising your rights to continue your relationship with your grandchild.
The attorneys at Leigh & Dougherty Family Law can assist you in exercising your rights to continue your relationship with your grandchild.
Guardian ad Litem
A Guardian ad Litem is a special attorney who can be appointed to represent a child in a contested custody or relocation case. The Guardian ad Litem serves as an arm of the court in discharging its duty to adjudicate the child’s best interests.
The attorneys at Leigh & Dougherty Family Law can advise you as to whether a Guardian ad Litem may be helpful in your case.
The attorneys at Leigh & Dougherty Family Law can advise you as to whether a Guardian ad Litem may be helpful in your case.
Kinship Guardianship
If a parent leaves their child with you for an extended period of time, and you wish to continue to care for the child, New Mexico law allows you to acquire guardianship over the child. This law, referred to as the Kinship Guardianship Act, applies to situations in which a parent has left a child with another person for more than ninety (90) days without “appropriate care, guidance, or supervision.” In these instance, the individual providing care for the child can be appointed the legal guardian of a child. Upon that person’s appointment, the parent’s rights are temporarily suspended and transferred to the kinship guardian. This means the kinship guardian is responsible for the child’s well-being and can make most decisions that could be made by a parent.
The attorneys at Leigh & Dougherty Family Law can thoroughly advise you as to your rights and responsibilities under the Kinship Guardianship Act and help you determine if this is an option which you would like to pursue.
The attorneys at Leigh & Dougherty Family Law can thoroughly advise you as to your rights and responsibilities under the Kinship Guardianship Act and help you determine if this is an option which you would like to pursue.
Child Support
Child Support is determined based on the New Mexico Child Support Guidelines. In calculating child support, the Court looks at both parent’s incomes (or potential income in instances when a parent is unemployed or under-employed), the number of children the parties share, the expenses each parent pays on behalf of the children, and the amount of time the children spend with each parent.
The attorneys at Leigh & Dougherty Family Law can work with you to ensure your child support is appropriately calculated.
The attorneys at Leigh & Dougherty Family Law can work with you to ensure your child support is appropriately calculated.
Parentage Actions
When non-married parties have children, the court must adjudicate parentage, determine custody, timesharing, child support and payment of birth-related expenses.
The attorneys at Leigh & Dougherty Family Law can effectively assist you in obtaining a court order that clearly spells out what is expected of both parents.
The attorneys at Leigh & Dougherty Family Law can effectively assist you in obtaining a court order that clearly spells out what is expected of both parents.
Adoption
Adoption is the legal process by which an individual, or individuals, assume parental rights and responsibilities for a child. Should you wish to take this important step, it is crucial that you have the proper legal advice and guidance.
The attorneys at Leigh & Dougherty Family Law can skillfully advise you and walk you through this process.
The attorneys at Leigh & Dougherty Family Law can skillfully advise you and walk you through this process.
