Merrillville Child Custody Lawyers

As a parent, you want the best for your child, and that means custody or adequate visitation time. At Robert A. Plantz & Associates, LLC, we share your concerns. We work diligently to help our clients achieve their custody and visitation goals. We have a proven track record for helping families across northwest Indiana find amicable and workable child custody solutions that fit their family’s unique needs and circumstances. Learn more about how we can help you with custody arrangements by calling 219-561-0263.

Child Custody Matters We Can Assist You With

Our firm represents parents in matters involving:

• Child custody
• Visitation and parenting time
• Child relocation disputes
• Grandparent rights
• Paternity as it relates to custody and visitation
• Representation in Children in Need of Services (CHINS) cases

We can also assist you if changes in your life require modifications to your custody orders or changes in visitation schedules.

To set an appointment for a free initial consultation* about a child custody or visitation matter, contact us today.

Why Hire A Merrillville Child Custody And Visitation Lawyer From Robert A. Plantz & Associates, LLC?

Selecting the right family law attorney significantly impacts your custody disputes outcome. Robert A. Plantz & Associates, LLC, brings exceptional qualifications, experience and dedication to family law matters case we handle:

• Proven track record: Our attorneys have successfully resolved countless custody disputes across northwest Indiana, helping families achieve workable solutions fitting their unique circumstances.
• Experienced trial advocacy: While we prioritize negotiated settlements, our attorneys possess extensive courtroom experience vigorously protecting clients’ rights when litigation becomes necessary.
• Creative problem-solving: We develop innovative custody and parenting time arrangements courts might not typically consider, maximizing your time with your children while serving their best interests.
• Comprehensive family law services: Beyond custody and visitation, we handle modifications, relocations, paternity matters, grandparent rights and CHINS cases, providing complete representation for all your family law matters.
• Local knowledge: Our deep understanding of Porter County and Lake County courts, judges and procedures positions us to navigate your case effectively through the Indiana legal system.
• Personalized attention: We recognize every family faces unique circumstances requiring tailored strategies rather than one-size-fits-all approaches to custody disputes.
• Free initial consultations: We offer complimentary consultations allowing you to discuss your situation, understand your options and make informed decisions about representation without financial pressure.

These qualifications demonstrate our commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes for you and your children in challenging family law matters.

What Are The Different Types Of Child Custody In Indiana?

In The Hoosier State, parents can have sole or shared:

• Physical custody: The right of one or both parents to have the child live with them.
• Legal custody: The right of one or both parents to make decisions about a child’s schooling, health care and other matters.
• Split custody: When parents split sole custody of their children. For example, one parent may have exclusive physical custody of one child while the other may have sole physical custody of another.
• Bird’s nest custody: This is where both children stay within the family home and each parent switches off who lives there in a given week.

The type of custody that is right for you and your children can depend on your specific situation. We can help you determine which type of custody is right for you during a consultation. You can set one up with us today by calling 219-561-0263.

What Factors Do Indiana Courts Look At When Determining Child Custody?

During child custody determinations, judges are often thinking about what’s in the best interests of the child. While what those “best interests” are can vary, a lot of the factors they look at include the:

• Financial stability of each parent
• Physical, emotional and mental health of each parent
• The level of involvement of each parent in the children’s lives
• The ability of each parent to help their children with school, extracurriculars and other related matters
• The ability of each parent to address specific health-related issues for each child
• The relationship each parent has with the children and whether it fosters a healthy environment for the children to be in
• The age and unique needs of the couple’s children

We can help promote your needs and interests in these matters alongside the needs of your children.

How Likely Is Shared Custody In Indiana?

Indiana law does not presume a 50/50 split of parenting time or favor either parent in an initial custody decision. Judges do award an equal or near-equal arrangement when it serves the child’s best interests. To support your request, you can show how your plan would benefit your child.

The court also considers how the proposed schedule would affect your child’s routine. When deciding between shared and primary physical custody, a judge examines:

• Availability: Each parent’s work hours and time available for direct care
• Proximity: The distance between the two homes
• Stability: The child’s established school placement and community ties
• Involvement: The daily responsibilities each parent already handles

The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines include a shared parenting model that emphasizes cooperation and consistency between both households. During a free initial consultation, our firm can discuss how these factors apply to your family.

What Can You Expect At An Indiana Child Custody Hearing?

A judge decides custody in Indiana after giving both parents an opportunity to present evidence and testimony. The hearing generally follows these steps:

• Opening statements: Each side may briefly outline its position.
• Evidence and testimony: The parent who filed the request usually proceeds first, followed by the other parent. Both may testify, call witnesses and offer documents.
• Questions and objections: Each side has the right to cross-examine witnesses and object to evidence the other parent introduces.
• Closing arguments: Each side explains how the evidence supports its proposed arrangement.
• Decision: The judge may announce a ruling at the hearing or issue a written order after further review.

School and medical records, communication logs and witness statements can document your involvement, provided the court admits them. Those logs also show how well you cooperate with the other parent, which matters when you seek shared custody. The judge evaluates the evidence under the best interests of the child standard.

The written order sets out the custody and parenting time terms you must follow. An experienced family law attorney from our firm can help you communicate your position clearly and address objections that could prevent the court from considering relevant information.

Do Indiana Courts Consider Sibling Relationships When Determining Custody?

It can depend on the circumstances. For example, if parents are looking to utilize split custody as part of their parenting agreement, a judge may factor in the relationship a child has with their sibling before allowing it.

How Does Domestic Violence Affect Custody Decisions In Indiana?

Domestic violence significantly impacts custody disputes in Indiana, with courts prioritizing children’s safety above all other considerations. Judges recognize that children exposed to domestic violence suffer psychological harm even when not directly abused themselves.

Indiana law requires courts to consider evidence of domestic violence when determining custody arrangements. Parents with documented histories of domestic abuse face substantial obstacles obtaining physical custody or unsupervised visitation. Courts may order supervised visitation, require completion of treatment programs or, in severe cases, terminate parental rights when children’s safety cannot be protected.

Protective orders and criminal convictions carry significant weight in custody disputes. However, courts also consider allegations made during contentious divorces carefully, recognizing that false accusations sometimes arise. Credible evidence including police reports, medical records, photographs and witness testimony substantiate domestic violence claims most effectively.

Victims should document all incidents thoroughly, seek protective orders when necessary and work with experienced family law attorneys who understand how to present evidence protecting children while securing appropriate custody arrangements.

Creative Custody And Parenting Time Solutions

Courts in Indiana have much latitude in custody and visitation matters. There is one constant, however – judges will always decide in favor of what they perceive to be the “best interest” of the child.

Merrillville child custody attorneys Robert A. Plantz will work to achieve the right solution for you and your children. As an accomplished negotiator, he is skilled at developing creative solutions that enable them to enjoy quality parenting time. He is also an experienced trial attorney who works vigorously to protect his clients’ rights.

Proposed Child Relocations

Our firm has extensive experience in child relocation cases, handling 10 or more cases at any given time. In some cases, a mutually acceptable solution can be negotiated, but disputes often end up in court. Porter County custody and visitation attorneys Robert A. Plantz can review your situation and explain the factors that will shape the outcome, as well as potential costs.

What If We Can’t Agree On Custody?

Not every couple can agree on how custody and visitation should work. If you find yourself in this situation, you still have options. Perhaps you just need some help keeping on track. With some guidance, you may be able to reach an agreement that best suits your family, which may include solutions that you ordinarily would not have considered and a court may not be able to consider. If that doesn’t work for you and the other parent, you may rely on an Indiana court to resolve this issue. As you prepare to present your case to the court, you should know that the court will make its decision based on what will serve the best interests of your children.

Can A Child Choose Which Parent To Live With In Indiana?

No, a child’s preference does not determine custody in Indiana. The judge must weigh those wishes and give them more consideration when the child is 14 or older. The court may also examine the reasons behind that preference and any signs of parental pressure.

A judge may interview your child privately in chambers instead of requiring testimony in open court. Our firm can explain how those views fit into your case and discuss how to raise them at your hearing.

Let Us Answer Your Questions During A Free Consultation

For a free initial consultation* with a lawyer concerning a child custody or parenting time matter, contact Robert A. Plantz & Associates, LLC, in Merrillville, Indiana, at 219-561-0263.