Child Custody Attorney in Overland Park, Kansas
Child custody issues are probably the most emotionally draining litigation within the family Court. However, it is extremely common to see such actions brought to Court because of the intense ramifications of parenting a child separately. When a Court is asked to resolve a custody dispute, it is charged with finding a plan that is in the best interest of the minor children. When a Court is forced to make the decision, someone will go away extremely upset because what is in the child’s best interest may not be what is in the best interest of the parent. Divorce is a very critical time in the parent-child relationship for a number of reasons. Orders of custody in a divorce or paternity case may end up defining the relationship a litigant has with their children for years to come.
Types of Custody (Legal and Residential)
In a child custody dispute, the Judge will have to make determinations of both legal and residential custody. In terms of legal custody, there are normally two choices: joint and sole. Joint legal custody means that both parents are fit and proper to be awarded decision making power regarding the children’s welfare. If joint legal custody is awarded (as is normally the case), both parents will be ordered to consult with each other when making major decisions involving their children. They will also both have access to their children’s vital information (schools, medical, etc.). If sole legal custody is awarded to one parent, that parent is vested by the Court to make decisions regarding health, education, and welfare of the children. This type of custody does not preclude the other parent from being involved with these decisions, but the primary responsibility rests with the parent have sole legal custody. Access to their children’s vital information is not automatically barred if the other parent has sole legal custody.
In terms of residential custody, there are four general forms: sole residential, primary residential, shared residential, and divided/split residential custody. The most common form is primary residential custody.
Sole Residential Custody – this is a rare situation utilized often when one parent has virtually abandoned the child, or may otherwise be unavailable for the child due to various disabilities and/or circumstances. In this situation, one parent will receive all primary powers of decision making and usually residential placement of the child.
Primary Residential Custody – This arrangement designates one parent to be the primary custodial parent where the child resides mostly with them, and the other parent is awarded specific parenting time. Examples of parenting time can be seen at the Family Law Guidelines links listed at the bottom of this page. Most jurisdictions have not published their guidelines. However, you will normally see Courts order parenting time schedules that very closely resemble the published family law guidelines from Johnson County, Kansas, Court.
The Non-Primary Residential Parent will be usually ordered to pay child support to the other parent every month. A child support calculator has been provided at the bottom of this page to help you determine around how much this order will be (Please note that this calculator should only be used as a general guide. There is a specific and complex formula that a Court uses to calculate support, and for an exact amount of support you may pay, consult an attorney to make those calculations for you).
Shared Residential Custody – This is a situation that is commonly used, but will almost never be Court-ordered if the parents do not get along well enough to implement it. A shared residential situation involves neither parent being designated the primary custodian, and the parents may be very liberal with exercising parenting time between each house. Usually, parents in this arrangement can work well together dividing parenting time and child-related expenses. An order of support will issue. However, it will often be for much lower than with other custodial arrangements. A shared custody support order is generally used to put the parties on equal financial ground when it comes to caring for their children, since sometimes one parent may have many more resources available to parent than the other.
Divided Residential Custody – This is when there are two or more children, and the parties break up the family and have primary residential custody of different children. Courts do not look favorably upon this arrangement, and it is rarely used outside of extreme circumstances due to the emotional bond that exists between siblings. It is frequently determined by the Court to not be in the best interest of the children to break sibling bonds by placing them in different households if it can be avoided.
There are suggested factors within the statute the Court may consider when making an order of child custody. However, this is a non-exclusive list. A Court is required by law to enter an order of custody that is in the best interest of the child K.S.A. 23-3203.
The suggested factors include:
(a) Each parent’s role and involvement with the minor child before and after separation;
(b) the desires of the child’s parents as to custody or residency;
(c) the desires of a child of sufficient age and maturity as to the child’s custody or residency;
(d) the age of the child;
(e) the emotional and physical needs of the child;
(f) the interaction and interrelationship of the child with parents, siblings, and any other person who may significantly affect the child’s best interests;
(g) the child’s adjustment to the child’s home, school, and community;
(h) the willingness and ability of each parent to respect and appreciate the bond between the child and the other parent and to allow for a continuing relationship between the child and the other parent;
(i) evidence of spousal abuse, either emotional or physical;
(j) the ability of the parties to communicate, cooperate and manage parental duties;
(k) the school activity schedule of the child;
(l) the work schedule of the parties;
(m) the location of the parties’ residences and places of employment;
(n) the location of the child’s school;
(o) whether a parent is subject to the registration requirements of the Kansas offender registration act, K.S.A. 22-4901 et seq., and amendments thereto, or any similar act in any other state, or under military or federal law;
(p) whether a parent has been convicted of abuse of a child, K.S.A. 21-3609, prior to its repeal, or K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5602, and amendments thereto;
(q) whether a parent is residing with an individual who is subject to registration requirements of the Kansas offender registration act, K.S.A. 22-4901 et seq., and amendments thereto, or any similar act in any other state, or under military or federal law; and
(r) whether a parent is residing with an individual who has been convicted of abuse of a child, K.S.A. 21-3609, prior to its repeal, or K.S.A. 2015 Supp. 21-5602, and amendments thereto.
If there is an agreement between the parties which includes the appropriate components, a presumption arises that this agreement is in the best interests of the child and it will normally be adopted by the Court. This is why Courts encourage mediation of child custody issues.
Jurisdiction
A Kansas Court will need to make certain findings before it can assume jurisdiction over a child custody matter. In order for a Court to be sure that a parent is not judge-shopping, a person seeking a Court to issue custody orders must allege that there is no other Court asserting authority over this child. For example, if your divorce was in Leavenworth County and custody orders arose from that action, you cannot run to Johnson County for a modification unless Leavenworth relents its jurisdiction. The same is normally true if orders of custody exist in Missouri, yet a parent now lives in Kansas. If your child has not lived within Kansas for at least six months, Kansas may not be the child’s home state and a Kansas Court may not wish to assert jurisdiction over the matter outside of a true emergency. Learn more about child custody jurisdiction and the U.C.C.J.E.A.
Emergency Orders
Emergency orders modifying a final order of custody may be obtained under special circumstances. These are typically sought when a party believes that the child is facing an immediate threat to their welfare, or if there is a reasonable belief that the child might be moved from the state without Court approval. Emergency orders without the opposing party present are difficult to obtain, and the Judge will require sworn testimony establishing a prima facie case that an emergency exists before the modified order is given. K.S.A. 23-3219.
Change of Custody Orders
When asking the Court to modify a final order of custody, the movant must file a verified motion alleging facts warranting the change. If the Court finds that the allegations set forth in the motion or the accompanying affidavit fail to establish a prima facie case, the Court will deny the motion. If the court finds that the motion establishes a prima facie case, the matter may be tried on the facts. K.S.A. 23-3218.
Child Support
The Kansas Legislature has directed the Supreme Court to adopt statewide child support guidelines.
for the calculation of child support. The Court is obliged to issue an order of support in every case. The calculation of child support involves an exhaustive list of factors that you can read from the guidelines, but a general baseline amount can be derived from the child support calculator. This calculator will only give you a guide, and you should probably consult an attorney if you want a truly accurate estimate of what should be ordered as support.
Unless there is a special agreement, Child Support will normally end when the child reaches the age of majority. If you’re looking for some help from the other parent with sending your child to college, you’d better have a specific agreement drawn up to cover this expense during the actual divorce proceedings. The Kansas Child Support Guidelines do not provide for it automatically.
Courts will normally order that all payments of support go through the Kansas Payment Center. This is done so there is an accurate record of when payments are made, and for how much. If a parent falls behind in payments the Court may choose to hold that party in contempt of Court, sometimes punishable by serving time in jail. You can track payment information at the Kansas payment Center website.
If you need assistance establishing or enforcing a child custody order, contact Leiker Law Office, P.A. immediately.
Kansas Child Support Calculator (general guide only, not exact)