Disputes over child
custody are the most difficult part of a divorce or legal
separation. They're also the most important; the
children's future can often depend on the outcome of your
child custody case. Oregon courts are legally required to
decide custody cases based on the child's best interests
-- not what is best for you. Sometimes, it's hard for
parents to agree on a parenting plan, even when both are
genuinely trying to do what's best for their children.
Other times, parents may agree on a parenting plan but
need help understanding and drafting all the legal
documents they need.
Child
Custody Modifications
Sometimes
circumstances change. You or the other parent may
remarry, lose a job or get a new one, or have to move
across the country. Sometimes, the other parent disrupts
your visitation or attempts to alienate you from your
child. Sometimes the other parent does something to make
you worry about the child's safety or well-being. Oregon
family law courts allow you to change an existing child
custody arrangement if there is a substantial change in
circumstances. This is a very heavy burden for the parent
trying to change custody. Our attorneys are experienced
in defending and proving child custody modification
cases.
Our
Firm's Approach
Given the consequences of a child custody case,
you not only need an experienced Oregon family law
attorney on your side, but you need an experienced
litigator. Our lawyers know child custody cases and know
the courtroom. We know what Lane County judges and other
Oregon courts do in a case like yours, because we've
tried many cases. Consequently, we know the likely
outcomes of your situation if your child custody case
goes to trial in Lane County.
We will not hesitate
to give you the straight truth about what an Oregon court
would likely do in a case like yours. We do not advise
you to take your custody case to trial just for the sake
of additional attorney fees. Based on our attorneys'
collective experience, we advise you of what we think the
possible Lane County trial outcomes are and the estimated
likelihood of each possible outcome. It is up to you to
decide whether or not to take your child custody case to
trial.
Our goal for every
client is to make them a former client as quickly and
inexpensively as possible. In other words, we want you to
resolve your case to your satisfaction with as little
expense as possible. The way we do that is by preparing
your case from the first day as if we were heading to
trial. That gives you the upper hand in negotiating a
settlement to bring your case to an end quickly. By
preparing your child custody case in this manner, you not
only know your case strengths but you know its weaknesses
as well, and thus the risks of trial. It is our
experience that when you know more about your case than
your opponents do, our clients often get the better end
of the bargain. And if your custody case does not settle,
we are well ahead of the game for trial.
Child custody trials
are best not left to prepare for at the last minute.
Child custody cases are best left to family law attorneys
who are both family law experts and trial experts.
When hiring a child custody lawyer you need to
feel confident that your lawyer is looking out for your
interests and your interests alone. You need to know that
attorney fees won't be run up haphazardly. You need to
know that the advice you are getting is based on what
actually goes on in Lane County family law courtrooms.
Our firm's team approach to handling child custody cases
allows you to make informed decisions based on the
collective wisdom of our trial lawyers.
If you or someone you
know in Eugene or throughout the Willamette Valley needs
the assistance of an experienced child custody lawyer, contact the attorneys at Arnold Law Office today at 541-338-9111. Our attorneys have a
wealth of information at their fingertips, including that
of managing partner Jacy Arnold, who was
recently rated one of the best Oregon's best lawyers
under the age of 40.
Managing
partner Mike Arnold on what sets Arnold Law
Office apart:
Arnold
Law Office, LLC, represents clients along the Oregon
Coast and throughout Western Oregon, including in
Portland, Eugene, Springfield, Salem, Corvallis, Cottage
Grove, Albany, Newport, Oregon City, Beaverton,
Clackamas, Wilsonville, Tigard, Hillsboro, Lake Oswego,
Coburg, Creswell, Florence, Junction City, Lowell,
Veneta, Oakridge, Roseburg, Brownsville, Halsey,
Harrisburg Klamath Falls, Medford, Ashland, Grants Pass,
Glendale, and Bend, and in the following counties: Lane
County, Multnomah County, Washington County, Clackamas
County, Linn County, Douglas County, Marion County, Coos
County, Lincoln County, Benton County, Deschutes County,
Josephine County, Klamath County, and Jackson County.
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