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When you’re facing a federal issue, you need an attorney whose going to be available 24/7 to help you get the results and outcome you need. The value of working with the Spodek Law Group is that we treat each and every client like a member of our family.
NYC Child Custody and Visitation Lawyers
New York Child Custody and Visitation Lawyers
Child custody is among the most important areas of law in the State of New York. The majority of parents want what’s best for their kids. Nevertheless, the legal system can be confusing and rather intimidating. It can be difficult to know how to stand for yourself and for your children in court. Our team of New York custody lawyers can stand for you.
What is Joint Custody?
Joint custody can be defined as a custodial provision in which both parents participate in the upbringing of their minor child or children. In New York Family Courts, joint custody is frequently contrasted with sole custody. In a sole custody arrangement, only one parent acts in the primary parenting role in the upbringing of their child.
Joint Custody: Never Presumed
The Family Court of New York doesn’t begin any child custody case with the assumption that joint custody is the best option for children. You will need to collaborate with a New York City custody and visitation lawyer in order to file your petition for joint custody. You will have to demonstrate to the court the reason that you believe it’s in the best interests of the child to share custody with both parents.
Even disagreements during marriage don’t have to stop a qualified parent from having joint custody. It is not so important that the parents get along with each other. What is key is whether they can reasonably cooperate for the good of the children.
If you are looking for a lawyer that listens, is aggressive where needed, and holds his word above all else, Todd is the best pick. I had hired multiple attorneys prior to hiring the Spodek Group for a white collar case. The first thing that stood out to me was the cost, as anyone going through the process and dealing with the system, money was tight at that time - especially after hiring and firing multiple lawyers. The cost was not as high as others which was definitely a plus. Todd's intake process was also unlike other attorneys. He took the time to actually listen. He cared. He was trying to put himself in my shoes while I was explaining the situation to him and he really took the time to understand the whole situation. Other lawyers will give you 15 mins and send you a retainer agreement. Not Todd, I think he spent almost two hours with me as I was explaining everything.Not only was he great during the onboarding process, he was supportive and very informative through the entire plea process and eventually sentencing. After hiring him, I asked if I should hire a prison consultant, he told me to save my money as he would do everything they would. He was right and held up to his word. Later on I would hear from others that went with the prison consultants that they were a waste of money - I am glad I listened to Todd!When it came time for sentencing, two days prior to sentencing, the prosecutor tried increasing my proposed prison time by almost double - apparently a normal move. Todd and his team worked with me non-stop through the weekend prior to sentencing to ensure that I was not given additional prison time. Again, he took the time to listen and came up with a strategy to explain the case with great detail.Unfortunately, I did plead guilty as that was my best option. Todd and his whole team wrote up nearly 300 pages of a summary of what happened and why I should not be given prison time. If I breakdown the amount I spent with Todd versus the amount of work that I saw being done, I am shocked I was not charged four times as much. The other benefit was, a lot of criminal defense lawyers were just a single attorney with a paralegal or two. Todd had a team of people that I dealt with (5-7 people that I interacted with), but he was ALWAYS accessible. It would never take him more than an hour to reply unless he was in court.I was sentenced to prison and I was emotionally distraught. Todd and his team did whatever they could even after sentencing to make sure I was alright. He personally stayed in touch with my family to ensure I was doing alright and offered support to them. Most lawyers would consider the job complete at sentencing, not Todd.After prison, Todd still spent time with me to make sure I was on the right track and avoiding any potential risks in the future. He has also been giving advice on how to navigate probation etc and has not been looking at the clock for billing.Although I wish I had never been arrested in the first place, I am glad I had Todd and his team in my corner. Without them I likely would have had to spend a lot more time in prison than I did.Thank you, Todd, and the entire Spodek Law team, for helping turn what was a nightmare into a manageable situation!
I am immensely grateful to the entire team at Spodek Law Group for their unwavering dedication and exceptional expertise throughout my case. From our initial consultation to the final resolution, their professionalism and tireless advocacy made all the difference. Their strategic approach and attention to detail instilled confidence in me every step of the way.Thanks to their hard work and commitment, we achieved a truly favorable outcome that exceeded my expectations. Not only did they navigate the complexities of my case with precision, but they also provided invaluable support and guidance during what was undoubtedly a challenging time. I cannot recommend Spodek Law Group highly enough, especially attorneys Todd Spodek and Claire Banks; they are beacons of excellence in the legal profession.YSP.
Todd, Ralph and Alex are amazing. Helped my husband get from a double digit number with multiple charges to a single digit, by the time I blink he will be out. They very professional and help with all your needs. They dealt with my anxiety and worry very well and they understand that your family member needs to get home as soon as possible.
Believe every single review here about Alex Z!! From our initial consultation, it was evident that Alex possessed a profound understanding of criminal law and a fierce dedication to his clients rights. Throughout the entirety of my case, Alex exhibited unparalleled professionalism and unwavering commitment. What sets Alex apart is not only his legal expertise but also his genuine compassion for his clients. He took the time to thoroughly explain my case, alleviating any concerns I had along the way. His exact words were “I’m not worried about it”. His unwavering support and guidance were invaluable throughout the entire process. I am immensely grateful for Alex's exceptional legal representation and wholeheartedly recommend his services to anyone in need of a skilled criminal defense attorney. Alex Z is not just a lawyer; he is a beacon of hope for those navigating the complexities of the legal system. If you find yourself in need of a dedicated and competent legal advocate, look no further than Alex Z.
I don’t know where to start, I can write a novel about this firm, but one thing I will say is that having my best interest was their main priority since the beginning of my case which was back in Winter 2019. Miss Claire Banks, one of the best Attorneys in the firm represented me very well and was very professional, respectful, and truthful. Not once did she leave me in the dark, in fact she presented all options and routes that could possibly be considered for my case and she reinsured me that no matter what I decided to do, her and the team will have my back and that’s exactly what happened. Not only will I be liberated from this case, also, I will enjoy my freedom and continue to be a mother to my first born son and will have no restrictions with accomplishing my goals in life. Now that’s what I call victory!! I thank the Lord, My mother, Claire, and the Spodek team for standing by me and fighting with me. Words can’t describe how grateful I am to have the opportunity to work with this team. I’m very satisfied, very pleased with their performance, their hard work, and their diligence.Thank you team!
I recently had Spodek Law Group represent me for a legal matter in NYC and I am thoroughly impressed with their services.Alex Zhik secured the best possible outcome for my case.It was a seamless journey from the initial consultation to the resolution of my legal matter. From the moment I spoke to Todd about my case, his enthusiasm to help was evident, setting a positive tone for the entire experience. The efficiency and professionalism displayed by the team is commendable.A particularly noteworthy aspect of their service is their user-friendly portal to upload your documents/evidence. This not only simplified the process, but showcases their commitment to streamline the client experience.Lastly, in an industry where legal fees can often be a concern, I found their pricing to be very reasonable, making needing legal assistance feel accessible and stress-free.I am grateful for their support and wouldn't hesitate to turn to them again in the future.
“Best Interests of the Child” Benchmark
When a court hands down decisions in custody cases, they come to those decisions based on what they believe to be “the best interests of the child”. The court considers who’s been the primary caregiver for the child up until this point. The judge’s consideration begins with where the child lives now, where they go to school and which parent is most capable of providing shelter and consistency. A judge will also assess the parenting skills of both parents. The question of either parent’s history of domestic violence will weigh heavily in the judge’s verdict. All details, down to a parent’s work schedule, can come under scrutiny in making custody decisions.
In the vast majority of custody cases, judges award at least some parenting time to both of the parents. The objective of the court is for children to have an opportunity to build a strong relationship with both of their parents in whatever arrangement works best for the child’s health and safety. No two cases are alike. Therefore, it’s crucial to take great care in preparing your case for the court’s consideration.
Here are some tips for Success in Joint Custody
Enlist the services of a lawyer that focuses on establishing joint custody
The lawyer you retain will be the most important part of getting custody. The unfortunate fact is that divorce law and parental law are some of the most treacherous cases. It can be tremendously adversarial. Instead of playing into this, you should hire a lawyer that is fair with each case and works hard to foster joint custody agreements as opposed to bitter court proceedings. Filing for joint custody and settling the case as quickly as possible is less expensive and traumatic for you and probably better for your child.
Do the best you can to build a good rapport with your ex
No matter what may take place in your legal matter, it is critical that you reach out to your spouse and have a friendly chat about how the two of you will raise your children outside of the relationship. You may be surprised how much goodwill can be fostered through honest discussion. By establishing this rapport, the two of you can do a lot of this work outside of contentious court battles and can instead do what is best for each other and your kids. Your child custody and visitation attorney can also be there to help you out in mediation.
Make certain you are abreast of the law and the details of your case while it is playing out
It is your responsibility to know what the New York custody laws say when going through your case. This will keep you in touch with visitation rights and what you need to do to file a petition to change any standing arrangements. Keep in contact with your lawyer as well so that they are able to answer questions that might come up during the process at any time.
What if I don’t get joint custody?
In the lion’s share of custody cases, both parents are awarded significant amounts of parenting time with their children. Even if you didn’t get joint custody, the chances are high that you will still have significant time with your children. Where deep concerns exist, a parent might have parenting time only under limited conditions such as orders not to consume alcohol or substances. A parent may have supervised visitation if the court feels that it’s best for the children’s safety.
Who Is Eligible to Be Awarded Visitation of a Child in a New York Family Court?
Visitation rights are basically reserved for members of the immediate family of the children in question. The term “immediate family” covers either one of the parents, their siblings and half-siblings, and their grandparents. A Family Court judge will rule as to whether visitation with the party petitioning is in their best interest. A child’s parent has a right to be allowed frequent and meaningful visitation with them, unless it can be demonstrated in family court that those visits would somehow be detrimental to the child.
