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Child custody cases are often the most emotionally challenging aspect of divorce or separation. At Levoritz Law Firm, we understand the deep anxieties and high stakes involved.
Our experienced Long Island child custody lawyer provide compassionate legal guidance and unwavering advocacy, working tirelessly to protect your parental rights and making sure that your children’s best interests are at the forefront of every decision.
We handle a full range of child custody matters and provide comprehensive legal support, including:
We help parents craft detailed and comprehensive parenting plans that address a wide range of issues, including:
The parenting plans we can help you develop can also address issues like extracurricular activities, medical care, and disciplinary matters.
Life is full of changes, and those changes can impact existing custody arrangements. We assist with modifications to custody orders based on:
Whether you require a modification due to changes in the child’s needs, parental alienation, or other factors, we’re here to assist you.
Relocation cases are particularly complex. If you’re considering moving with your child, we’ll provide guidance on:
We’ll make sure you meet all legal requirements and file the necessary paperwork for a successful relocation in Long Island, NYC.
When one parent fails to comply with a court-ordered custody arrangement, we take action to protect your rights and enforce the order. We can:
Custody orders are legal requirements. When one parent fails to comply, steps can be taken to remedy the situation and restore court-ordered balance.
Parental alienation occurs when one parent tries to manipulate a child into rejecting or fearing the other parent. We have experience addressing parental alienation by:
Unfortunately, parental alienation can have severe consequences for the child’s emotional well-being. We will use our experience and resources to help you repair the bond between you and your child.
New York’s courts distinguish between legal custody and physical custody. Although parents often focus on where a child will live, both forms of custody play an important role in shaping a child’s life and parenting time.
When both parents can agree on the terms of legal and physical custody, a judge may approve those decisions if they support the child’s best interests. Understanding the difference between these two types of custody is crucial for anyone in Garden City, Huntington, Smithtown, and other neighborhoods in Long Island.
This form of custody refers to a parent’s authority to make major decisions affecting a child’s upbringing. These decisions include education, non-emergency medical care, religious upbringing, and other significant matters. Under joint legal custody, both parents share decision-making responsibilities and are expected to communicate about important issues.
Sole legal custody, on the other hand, awards one parent with the authority to make decisions without obtaining the other parent’s prior consent, although the other parent may still have parenting time and visitation rights.
This type of custody is sometimes called residential custody. It determines where the child primarily lives. Under sole physical custody, the child resides primarily with one parent, while the other parent usually receives scheduled parenting time. Joint physical custody involves the child spending substantial time with both parents, although parenting time does not have to be divided perfectly evenly.
Joint physical custody can work well when parents communicate effectively, maintain cooperative relationships, and live close enough to minimize disruptions to the child’s school schedule, extracurricular activities, and daily routine.
In Long Island communities, arrangements may be easier when parents continue living near one another in Nassau or Suffolk County. Longer distances and high-conflict situations can lead to situations where the courts are asked to determine which parent would be better suited to maintain primary physical custody.
In a state with an annual divorce rate of 2.4 per 1,000 residents, many Long Islanders and other state residents make the difficult decision to divorce every year. For anyone going through a divorce in Long Island, the decision to hire a child custody lawyer should be a top priority. An experienced family law attorney brings years or decades of experience and can draw on their knowledge of child custody laws to protect their clients’ rights.
A Long Island child custody attorney can:
There may be situations where there are legitimate concerns about a parent’s ability to provide a safe home environment. The violent crime rate in Long Island is 4.013 per 1,000 residents in a typical year, and domestic violence and past criminal records can demonstrate that one parent may not be fit to have shared custody. When there are concerns about a child’s safety, supervised visitation and other restrictions may be warranted.
Legal support can play a crucial role in protecting your rights and interests, so the final court order protects your time with your child and reflects your many years of devoted child-rearing and support.
| Year | Total Statewide Custody & Visitation Filings |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 152,545 |
| 2022 | 139,363 |
| 2021 | 123,800 |
| 2020 | 103,406 |
| 2019 | 186,500 |
*Data sourced from the official New York State Unified Court System Annual Reports (Table 8).
The cost of a child custody lawyer in New York depends on their years of experience, hourly rate, and the time and resources they put into a case. More experienced attorneys with strong reputations tend to charge accordingly for their services, while newer attorneys often charge lower rates. Family law attorneys generally bill by the hour and require upfront retainers. The fee should be disclosed in the attorney-client agreement.
New York courts determine custody by reviewing the evidence and making rulings based on the best interests of the child. When both parents can come to an agreement on custody matters, the courts generally honor those decisions and include them in the final court order. Contested divorces can lead to greater involvement by the courts and a ruling based on the interests of the child. Once a final court order is signed, it can be challenging to later modify.
The biggest mistake someone makes in a child custody case is failing to hire experienced legal counsel. Even when a custody case starts out uncontested, disagreements can lead to unexpected litigation. Avoid discussing the case on social media or violating temporary court orders while proceedings remain pending. Things can escalate quickly, leaving one party potentially blindsided. Although attorneys’ fees are far from insignificant, they can be a worthwhile investment for someone seeking to protect their property and custody rights.
Approximately 14% of Long Island residents are under 18, and the courts consider many factors when determining custody. New York judges may consider a child’s preferences based on the child’s age and maturity, but children do not have the capacity to make those decisions. Depending on the case, older teenagers’ preferences may carry more weight. Once someone turns 18, they are legal adults and can choose where they live and who they talk with.
After a custody order is signed, it can be modified, although modifications are not simple. The party requesting the modification must show there is a significant change in circumstances that warrants the request. One example could be a situation where a parent moves considerably further away. That could make the current visitation schedule untenable. Although modifications are challenging, they can be granted when they serve the interests of the child.
Nothing can be more difficult than a divorce. When entering a marriage, it is very rare to expect that it will end. For couples with children, the challenges are compounded, and the process can quickly become embittered. With the help of The Levoritz Law Firm, however, you can trust our knowledge and experience to counsel you throughout the process and help you take the next step in a new direction for you and your children.
Our reputation is built on integrity, responsive client service, and a steadfast commitment to protecting our clients’ interests at every stage of their case. Our empathetic team understands the difficulties ahead and can help. Contact our office today to schedule your consultation and gain the exceptional legal representation that your case deserves.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Yonatan Levoritz who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a divorce & family attorney.
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