St. Louis Child Custody Lawyer

Florissant Visitation Attorney

Your Child Custody Advocate

Issues involving custody of a child or children are one of the most emotional aspects of family law, whether in the context of a divorce or a paternity action. Assistance from an experienced lawyer can help you focus on a productive approach.

Contact us at the office of JoAnn C. Donovan, LLC, Attorney at Law, to schedule a free initial consultation with attorney JoAnn C. Donovan, who will use her over 25 years of legal experience to give you quality counsel and representation on child custody and visitation issues. We also handle modifications and relocations, if a child custody order needs to be altered to suit a family's changed circumstances.

Concentrating on the Child's Needs

A child custody and visitation dispute can be costly in more ways than one. It can be difficult to prove the facts the court needs to make its decision, and the process can take its toll on family relationships. For this reason, it is important to clarify your goals at the beginning of the process.

The legal standard for the child custody and visitation decision is the best interests of the child. If your case goes to trial, each side's arguments to the judge must be based on the child's interests.

Motives such as punishing the other parent or gaining an advantage in another aspect of the divorce process should not play a part in decisions about child custody. Child custody decisions must be focused on the child's best interests.

We will help you propose a custody plan that provides the child with care and support from both parents and that serves the child's best interests. Of course, if no agreement is reached, we are fully prepared to protect your children by taking your case to trial.

Including Multiple Perspectives

In more difficult child custody cases, it is not unusual to involve outside experts such as psychologists who can testify as to which arrangement would be in the best interests of the child.

The court may also appoint a guardian ad litem, an attorney who is responsible for representing the best interests of the child, as opposed to either parent.

Contact a St. Louis Child Custody Attorney

Let attorney JoAnn C. Donovan help you navigate your complex child custody and visitation issues. Contact us to get skilled legal help with child custody and visitation in St. Louis County and St. Charles County.