Fairfield Connecticut Child Custody Law Firm

Westport Child Custody Lawyer

The law office of Richard H. Raphael, represents clients in child custody matters including relocation cases. He is located in Westport, Connecticut, and represents clients throughout Fairfield and New Haven Counties, including the towns of Westport, Weston, Norwalk, Darien, Stamford, Wilton, Greenwich, and New Canaan.

Child custody matters are stressful and can cause further conflict for the divorcing couple. With more than 30 years experience as a family lawyer in Connecticut, Attorney Raphael understands the concerns, and is sensitive to the needs of his clients involved in custody matters including relocation cases. His in-depth knowledge of Connecticut child custody and relocation laws, coupled with his years of experience are vital to providing you with the information you need to decide what is best for your child.

Custody Arrangements and Parental Rights

In Connecticut, the following custody determinations must be made: (1) Legal custody, where a determination must be made about who will be the decision maker regarding health, welfare, and education of the child; and (2) Physical custody which the court must determine with whom the child should live.

As to legal custody, there are the following arrangements:

a. Sole legal, where one parent is solely responsible for decision making.
b. Joint legal, where both parents share the decision making responsibilities.

As to physical custody, there are the following arrangements:

A. Sole, where one parent has physical custody exclusively. (usually when there is abuse and neglect involved)
B. Joint, where the child primarily lives with one parents while the other has visitation rights.
C. Shared, where the parties equally share physical custody of the child.

Child Support and Financial Obligations

Child support is a payment made by the non-custodial parent to the custodial parent for purposes of making a financial contribution to the needs of the child. The amount of support required is based on the parent's respective income and the child's specific needs.

If you have questions regarding child custody or child support, please contact the law office of Richard H. Raphael for a free consultation. Richard H. Raphael is available for evening and weekend appointments by request. Call 203-226-6168, or email.