Brainerd Child Custody
and Visitation Lawyers

Frequently, parents agree on broad custody and visitation principles, such as the orders should be in the best interests of the children. Just as frequently, the parents disagree on specific points, such as the difference between the best interests of the children and the best interests of the parents.

The dedicated Brainerd custody and visitation lawyers at Carlson & Jones work hard to find long term solutions which do not drive families further apart. At the same time, we always uphold our clients’ legal and financial rights in these situations. In other words, we compromise when necessary, but we never go too far.

Initial Determinations

Minnesota law presumes that children benefit from frequent, consistent, and meaningful contact with both parents. In many cases, traditional arrangements, such as the every other weekend and every other holiday model, fulfil the childrens’ needs. In other cases, however, a different approach is better. Some ideas include:

• Extended Weekend: Beginning weekend visitations on Thursday night and ending them on Monday nights greatly equalizes the parenting time division without significantly altering the traditional model.
• Block Scheduling: The children spend a week or two with Parent A, an equal amount of time with Parent B, and the pattern repeats. For the most part, this schedule remains the same twelve months a year.
• Empty Nest: Instead of the children shuttling between residences, the parents shuttle between residences, and the children stay in the same place. This arrangement works well in some situations.

Some child custody factors include the parenting time division during the marriage, the preferences of the children, the current parenting time division, and the preferences of the parents.

Subsequent Modifications

Children grow, and their emotional needs change. Additionally, parents move frequently. These moves often mean adjustments to the parenting time division.

It is always important to formalize these changes. Informal side agreements, even if written, are generally unenforceable in Crow Wing County family court. So, if one parent unilaterally decides to go back to the way things were, the other parent has no legal recourse.

Avail Legal Guidance from Our Brainerd Child Custody Attorney

Child custody and visitation orders should provide stability in an unstable situation. Whether your matter involves uncontested child custody or you’re in a situation where custody and visitation will be vehemently contested, or even if you find yourself dealing with a straightforward or complex custody and visitation case, it is always advisable to work with a skilled attorney who understands the nitty-gritty of your case. For a free consultation with an experienced Brainerd custody and visitation lawyer, contact Carlson & Jones, P.A. at (218) 736-9429. We routinely handle matters in Crow Wing County and nearby jurisdictions.