Albuquerque Custody Attorney

When a custody dispute affects your relationship with your child, understanding the law and the court process is essential. At Justice Legal Group, we have handled complex family law and custody matters throughout New Mexico for decades. We approach custody cases through negotiation, mediation, and litigation when necessary, building our strategy around the specific circumstances of each family. As an Albuquerque custody attorney team, we represent parents and other family members in matters involving custody, time sharing, paternity, guardianships, domestic violence, and post-judgment modifications. Our goal is to provide informed legal representation while helping our clients understand the decisions they face throughout their case.

One of the most important distinctions we explain to clients is the difference between legal custody and time sharing. Legal custody concerns who has authority to make significant decisions for a child. Justice Legal Group identifies five areas involved in legal custody: religion, health care, schooling, residence, and recreational activities. New Mexico law presumes joint legal custody is in a child’s best interests, meaning both parents generally participate in these decisions. Time sharing is different because it concerns how much time each parent spends with the child. We evaluate these issues separately when developing a custody strategy for our clients.

As an Albuquerque custody attorney team, we understand that a custody case can involve substantially more than appearing before a judge. A case can begin with a pleading filed with the court, followed by service on the other parent and a response. The discovery process may then be used to obtain information relevant to the allegations and issues in dispute. Depending on the circumstances, the matter may proceed to a hearing or trial where evidence is presented and the court determines the appropriate custody arrangement. We help our clients prepare for each stage and understand how information, evidence, and procedural requirements can affect their case.

Some custody matters involve additional professionals and procedures that can significantly affect the case. We have experience with Guardians ad Litem and custody evaluators, also known as 706 experts. A Guardian ad Litem may be appointed by the court to represent a child’s interests, while a custody evaluator may assess the circumstances of the family and provide recommendations to the court. These evaluations can involve extensive investigation, evidence, and procedural requirements. We help clients understand what these professionals do, how their involvement can affect a custody case, and what preparation may be necessary.

Custody matters do not necessarily end when an initial order is entered. We handle post-divorce custody matters when circumstances change and a parent seeks a modification before a child reaches adulthood. We also address relocation disputes and emergency custody situations, including matters involving allegations of abuse or domestic violence. When custody issues cross state lines, the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act can also become relevant. We help clients identify the legal issues involved and determine what procedures may apply to their particular circumstances.

At Justice Legal Group, we focus primarily on complex family law matters and provide representation tailored to the circumstances of each case. Our attorneys have experience handling custody disputes arising from divorce, paternity cases, guardianships, grandparents’ rights, domestic violence, and other family law proceedings. We work with clients from the initial consultation through the legal process, using negotiation and mediation when appropriate and preparing for litigation when necessary. If you need an Albuquerque custody attorney, we are located at 7850 Jefferson Street NE, Suite 130, in Albuquerque. Contact our team at (505) 407-0573 to discuss your custody matter with us.