Over A Century Of Combined Legal Experience

Manchester Child Custody And Parenting Time Lawyers

Parenting time is, quite simply, the time you spend with your children as a parent. This is an important part of your life and of the custody agreement you will have with your ex. Parenting time is a primary source of conflict and negotiation in every divorce, but our child custody lawyers are here to help you through it.

At Solomon Law Firm, we are skilled family law attorneys who understand the challenges faced by custodial and noncustodial parents in creating their parenting schedules. Your parenting plan has to be fair and consistent with New Hampshire laws. We can help you find a way to spend time with your kids.

Custody Options For Parents In New Hampshire

In New Hampshire, parents and families can choose from several common custody arrangements for raising a child. These include:

Full joint custody: The preferred option for New Hampshire is joint custody at both the legal and physical levels. This means both parents retain decision-making power and spend time living with the child.
Sole custody with visitation: One parent remains the primary residence and decision maker of the child, and the other parent retains the right to visit with the child. There is a range of visitation, from totally unsupervised overnight visits to limited, supervised visitation.
Sole custody without visitation: Similar to the previous example, this is only done if there is a serious danger to the child if contact remains with the other parent.
Grandparent visitation: New Hampshire recognizes grandparents’ rights to see and visit their grandchildren and can even petition for inclusion in the parenting plan.

How these options play out in your divorce or child custody will take considerable time and effort to both discover and resolve.

Protecting Children During Separation

In New Hampshire, the courts recognize legal separations, and many parents use this time to see what life beyond their marriage looks like. Even though separation may be temporary, children still need structure and stability during this period.

To prevent conflict and uncertainty, the court issues temporary orders that establish custody, parenting time and child support until the parents reach a final agreement. These temporary measures may include:

Temporary residential responsibility: The court can decide where the child will primarily live while the case is pending.
Visitation schedules: Clear guidelines for weekends, holidays or daily contact to minimize disputes.
Decision-making authority: Determining which parent has the right to make important choices about schooling, health care or religious upbringing during separation.
Financial support: Temporary child support to ensure the child’s needs are met without disruption.

Temporary custody orders do not necessarily predict the outcome of a divorce or long-term parenting plan, but they provide children with a sense of security during an uncertain time. Because the court applies the best interests of the child standard even to temporary measures, it is critical to present a parenting arrangement that reflects stability, cooperation and the child’s needs.

At Solomon Law Firm, we guide parents through this process, whether by negotiating an agreement outside of court or presenting your case before a judge. With our experience in mediation and knowledge of shared custody laws in New Hampshire, we help you put protections in place that prioritize your children’s well-being during separation.

Your Options For Resolving Custody Decisions

When parents separate or divorce, custody decisions can be reached in different ways. The approach you take will depend on the level of conflict, your ability to cooperate with your co-parent and the needs of your child. Common paths include:

Negotiation between parents: Some parents are able to sit down, often with their attorneys present and work out a parenting plan that suits their schedules and their child’s needs.
Mediation: A neutral mediator guides discussions to help parents resolve disagreements outside of court. Mediation is often faster, less expensive and less combative than going to court.
Litigation: If no agreement can be reached, the court will step in and issue an order based on the best interests of the child. While necessary in some cases, this process can be more stressful and time-consuming.

Solomon Law Firm emphasizes solutions that reduce conflict and protect children from the strain of custody battles. Attorney Elaine Kennedy is a trained mediator, and our team has extensive experience helping parents find common ground through mediation. This process allows parents to stay in control of their parenting plan, rather than leaving decisions entirely up to a judge.

Mediation also fosters a more cooperative co-parenting relationship, which can benefit families long after the case is resolved. When mediation is not possible or not in the child’s best interests, we are fully prepared to advocate for you in court.

Is New Hampshire A 50/50 Custody State?

Our state does not automatically give parents a 50/50 split of time with their children. Instead, the court looks at the custody factors in New Hampshire to decide what works best for the child. These include things like each parent’s ability to provide a safe home, how close the child is to their school and community, and whether both parents support the child’s relationship with the other parent.

Sometimes, a true 50/50 schedule is possible and works well. Other times, a different plan makes more sense, such as one parent having more weekday time while the other has more weekends. The important thing is that the court tries to create custody arrangements that keep life stable and healthy for the child.

Talk To A Manchester Parenting Time Attorney Today

Making decisions about custody and parenting time can certainly feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to figure it out on your own. A skilled family law attorney can explain your rights, guide you through the process and help you work toward a plan that’s fair and practical. Call us at 877-LAW-HELP or send an email to get started.