Wichita Child Custody and Support Attorneys 

Kansas lawyers advocate for divorced and separated parents

When parents live in separate households, it can raise important issues regarding the care and support of their children. Peggs Wheeler, LC in Wichita, Kansas, is experienced in providing the counsel and representation parents need to address these issues fairly.

Why are child custody and support important?

When parents separate or divorce, questions arise over who will shelter, care for and make decisions for them and how will the children’s financial needs be met. If the parents can’t resolve these questions on their own, the courts must do so. What they decide can have an enormous impact on both parents, the children themselves and the financial well-being of all of them. Our firm can provide the legal support you need to obtain the best result for you and your children.

Types of child custody

Kansas recognizes two types of child custody: legal and physical/residential. Legal custody is the right to make religious, educational, moral and legal decisions for the child. Physical custody concerns which parent the child lives with. Courts usually award legal custody to both parents, but may award it to one parent if the other is unfit or the parents are in disagreement. Physical, or residential, custody may be awarded to one parent subject to reasonable visitation rights of the other parent, or equally to both parents, generally referred to as shared residential custody. Our family law attorneys can help you determine what child custody arrangement works best for you and your children.

Factors influencing custody decisions 

A judge awards child custody based on a judgment of what arrangement is in the child’s best interests, taking into account the following:

• Each parent’s desire for custody
• The child’s age, mental and physical condition and, if mature enough, their preference
• The relationship between the child and each parent
• Each parent’s ability to communicate, cooperate and respect each other’s relationship with the child
• The locations of each parent’s home and workplace and the child’s school
• The child’s and each parent’s schedule
• The child’s adjustment to home, school and community
• Any evidence of domestic abuse

As your attorneys, we present to the judge the strongest case in favor of the custody arrangements that preserves your relationship with your child.

Calculating child support

Both parents have an obligation to financially support their child. The purpose of child support is to ensure that the non-custodial parent pays for a fair share of the child’s needs. The basic formula for calculating child support adds up each parent’s gross domestic income and adjusts it to account for other child support and alimony payments. The court will calculate the basic child support obligation from those figures, using state guidelines, but may deviate from the guidelines if justified by other factors. Whether we represent custodial or non-custodial parents, we do our best to make sure child support is as fair as possible for our clients.

Modification and enforcement

Sometimes, changes in circumstances may require a modification of child custody or child support. At other times, it might be necessary for one parent to enforce the other parent’s child support obligation. We will advocate for your rights whether you are petitioning for or opposing the modification or enforcement.

Contact our Wichita child custody and support firm for a free initial consultation

Peggs Wheeler, LC in Wichita, Kansas is ready to assist you with your child custody and support issues, giving personal attention to your most pressing concerns. Call 316-512-7853 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.