Eugene, Oregon Child Custody Attorneys

Child Custody and Divorce

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. 

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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