Des Moines Child Custody Lawyer

Fighting For The Future Of Your Family

As a parent, you only want the best for your child. Seeing them happy, healthy and well cared for becomes your main priority. However, in the face of divorce or a disagreement between unmarried parents, child custody decrees can seriously impact your entire family. If your custody case stems from a divorce, you need to establish paternity, or you were never married, you need an experienced Des Moines child custody lawyer to help fight for your rights.

At the Law Offices of Amanda T. Adams PLLC, attorney Amanda Adams has over 15 years of experience helping families through difficult custody battles. With offices in Johnston and Crystal Lake, Ms. Adams helps clients throughout Iowa and Illinois.

Finding The Best Custody Solutions For Your Child

There are two types of custody, legal and physical. If a parent has legal custody, they are responsible for making decisions about the child’s life. Common decisions include education, medical care and religious instruction. A parent with physical custody has the child living with them. Joint legal custody is often the preferred standard, meaning both parents have equal decision-making rights, regardless of which parent the child lives with full-time.

In all custody cases, the court considers the best interests of the child a top priority in making decisions. However, other considerations play an important role in custody decisions, such as:

• The child’s needs
• Each parent’s ability to meet their child’s needs
• The relationship between the child and the parents or siblings
• Whether the parent has interfered with the child’s ability to maintain a relationship with the other parent
• How a divorce has impacted the child
• The parent’s emotional, environmental and financial stability

The court may also consider their preference if the child is old enough to decide. Ideally, the child can maintain a relationship with both parents, regardless of the custody decision. If one parent has sole physical custody, the judge creates a parenting plan, or visitation schedule, to ensure the child sees both parents.

Des Moines’ population is about 212,000, and our busy courts emphasize stability and encourage parental involvement. With such strong public school systems as Des Moines Public Schools, your attorney can help argue that you plan to keep your children in their familiar schools and community. A court can consider this information as part of your plan to protect the interests of your children, which bolsters a custody plan.

Iowa data shows fathers were awarded an average of 30.2% of custody time in contested cases (without any complicating factors like abuse or extended distance for out-of-state fathers). This meant fathers received about 110 days each year of custody, while mothers then received about 255 days or 69.8%.

This shows a trend toward awarding mothers increased child custody time in Iowa, but joint custody remains common. This data reflects a broader cultural and legal shift towards shared parenting time in Des Moines.

Des Moines Custody Considerations

Given its position as the state’s capital and Iowa’s largest city, there are several different types of custody situations in Des Moines worth addressing, including:

• Unmarried Partner Custody. When two parents are not married, the mother generally has sole custody, unless a court orders another arrangement. If the mother has sole child custody initially, a court can later order a different custody arrangement through a modification. Unless evidence shows such an arrangement wouldn’t be in the child’s best interest, Iowa courts attempt to award joint physical and legal custody.
• Military Custody. The military doesn’t necessarily automatically change an Iowa custody arrangement. However, Iowa’s Uniform Deployed Parents Custody and Visitation Act (598C) exists to protect a military parent’s right to child custody and visitation. The goal is to maintain a continued connection with a military parent’s child, even throughout military deployment.
• Move-Away or Relocation Situations. Parents wanting to relocate a child at least 150 miles away from their original residence are required to obtain court approval. Iowa courts consider the move’s benefits versus any possible hardship to the other parent’s ongoing relationship with their child. If one parent interferes with the other’s access to the child, Iowa courts might order compliance with the original visitation arrangement.
• Incarcerated Parents. Even if one parent is incarcerated, Iowa courts want to preserve the best interests of the child and consider that parent’s ability to continue contact and contribute to their comfort/well-being.
• Situations Involving Parental Substance Abuse or Mental Health Concerns. An Iowa court can consider one parent’s substance abuse issues or mental health concerns when making child custody decisions.

It’s important to maintain clear and open communication with the other parent about your children and try to resolve disputes amicably. If you have concerns about child custody or need help with any of these custody situations, consider consulting an experienced Des Moines attorney for reliable legal assistance.

A Child Custody Attorney You Can Trust

From deciding custody after your divorce to assistance establishing paternity, you can trust the Law Offices of Amanda T. Adams PLLC, to provide sound guidance and advocate for your and your child’s best interests. Ms. Adams always responds to your questions promptly to ensure that you are comfortable with every step of your case.

Contact her today by calling 815-250-7084 or completing an online contact form to schedule a free consultation. Our office is located within the Foxboro Square Business Center in Johnston, Iowa, a suburb of beautiful Des Moines. We’re situated along Northwest 86th Street, which provides easy connectivity to I-80 and I-35, making us easily accessible from the broader Des Moines area. We have plenty of available parking for our clients.

Contact the Law Offices of Amanda T. Adams to discuss your Des Moines child custody matter.