Bethlehem Child Custody Attorneys
In any divorce involving minor children, one major issue that must be resolved is child custody. In Pennsylvania, courts adhere to the "best interests of the child" standard. Judges have wide latitude when determining child custody arrangements. As a result, parties in a divorce, and when the parties were never married, generally try to negotiate child custody arrangements that make sense for each party, rather than leave this crucial issue in the hands of a judge.
Gardner Law Office is a strong, knowledgeable advocate in negotiations and in litigation. The firm's lawyers will keep your best interests, and those of your children, at the forefront through the length of your case. Contact Gardner Law Office to discuss your situation. Call 610-228-4626 or toll free at 888-392-3518.
In child custody arrangements, both parents share physical custody or one parent has physical custody, while the other parent has rights to partial custody or visitation. In most cases, the parents share legal custody. This means that each parent will have the right to share in making decisions about the child's upbringing. Pennsylvania law does not favor either the mother or father in child custody determinations.
International Child Custody Disputes are a Special Area of Focus at the Firm
If the other parent of your child has unlawfully taken your child out of Pennsylvania or out of the United States, you will need a lawyer with experience helping to reunite parents and children in similar circumstances. Attorney Linda Shay Gardner has appeared in numerous state and federal courts outside of Pennsylvania to represent clients in international and interstate custody disputes. Most of this litigation centers on application of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA).
Additionally, Linda Shay Gardner has worked on or advised parents in approximately 200 cases involving international or interstate child abduction. She consults with the Office of Children's Issues in the U.S. State Department regarding particular cases, and regularly advises lawyers across the United States and around the world about how best to handle these matters. There are very few attorneys in the United States that have Linda Shay Gardner's experience in international child custody disputes. She also assists clients in providing strategies for abduction prevention.
Gardner Law Office are located in Bethlehem and represents clients in Allentown, Easton and elsewhere throughout the Lehigh Valley and beyond. Contact the firm to discuss your questions surrounding child custody issues.
