Experienced Lawyers For All Child Custody Issues And Parenting Rights

To parents, issues of child custody are some of the most important issues in a divorce or legal separation. Typically, both parents want to continue being active, involved parents with a fair share of custody and parenting time.

At Clark Law PLLC, we understand how important your children are to you. We have the experience, tools and resources to help you navigate complex child custody matters while maximizing your chances of success.

Parenting Plans In New Hampshire

The state of New Hampshire and its courts use the terms “parenting rights and responsibilities” to refer to child custody and visitation matters. Typically, courts favor parenting plans that allow both parents to have adequate time with their children.

Unmarried parents and married couples going through a divorce must have a parenting plan. This plan addresses decision-making responsibility for major decisions like nonemergency health care, education and religious training; day-to-day decision-making; the routine weekly schedule; holidays and birthday schedules; three-day weekend schedules; vacation and summer schedules; residence for school purposes; transportation for parenting exchanges; supervised parenting (if necessary); access to medical and school records; phone contact between parents and children; written/email contact between parents and children; relocation; disputes over parenting issues; and other related issues.

Before making any decisions that could lead to a loss of parenting time or unfair division of parental responsibilities, call us at 603-473-4338 to obtain important legal advice.

If a change in circumstances, such as a parent’s relocation or child’s preference, calls for an adjustment to an existing parenting plan, we can advise you regarding what courts look for in a modification and how best to proceed while protecting your interests.

How Can I Protect My Visitation Rights?

When your time and relationship with your children are on the line, there is no room for error. The best way to protect your parental rights and pursue a fair and reasonable custody arrangement is to retain the services of an experienced family law attorney.

The child custody lawyers of Clark Law PLLC have decades of experience representing mothers and fathers in matters of shared parenting including establishing paternity.

In certain circumstances, the termination of parental rights may become necessary, either due to concerns of neglect, abuse, or abandonment, or as part of adoption proceedings. This legal action permanently ends the legal relationship between a parent and their child, underscoring the seriousness of such cases. We approach these sensitive matters with the utmost care and professionalism, ensuring that all legal standards are met while advocating for the best interests of the child. Our experienced attorneys are equipped to guide you through this complex process with compassion and diligence.

Navigating Parental Alienation In New Hampshire

Parental alienation is a serious issue that can arise during child custody disputes. It occurs when one parent manipulates a child’s perception to create unwarranted negative feelings toward the other parent. This behavior can severely damage the parent-child relationship and have long-lasting emotional impacts on the child, including guilt, confusion, fear and sadness. In extreme cases, it can lead to trust issues and mental health problems that persist into adulthood.

Recognizing the signs of parental alienation is crucial. Look for:

• Sudden changes in your child’s behavior
• Refusal to spend time with you
• Excessive criticism of you
• Showing no guilt or remorse for treating you poorly

We understand the tremendous toll parental alienation can take, and we will work diligently to protect your parental rights and preserve your relationship with your child. Whether that involves creating fair parenting schedules or enforcing or modifying a court order, our team has the resources and legal knowledge to help you confront issues related to parental alienation.

Types Of Child Custody Matters We Address

Child custody cases rarely stand alone. Issues such as child support, parental relocation, paternity and requests to modify court orders often come up at the same time. Our attorneys at Clark Law PLLC, represent parents and families across New Hampshire in the following areas of family law:

Child Relocation

When one parent plans to move out of state with the children, that decision directly affects the existing parenting plan. New Hampshire family courts weigh two key factors: whether the move serves a legitimate purpose and whether relocating is in the child’s best interests. Our attorneys represent clients on both sides of relocation disputes.

Child Support

New Hampshire calculates child support using a formula set by the state legislature. It considers each parent’s gross income and allows for specific deductions, such as child care costs, health insurance premiums and mandatory retirement contributions. Our legal team can help you understand how the formula applies to your situation and whether your circumstances support a deviation from the standard guidelines.

Child Support And Custody Modifications

Changes in family circumstances may require updates to an existing court order. A job loss, a relocation or a shift in a child’s needs can each serve as grounds for modification. Our attorneys can guide you through the modification process, from filing the initial petition to receiving court approval.

Fathers’ Rights

New Hampshire law gives mothers and fathers equal rights to parenting time. Our lawyers represent fathers in custody and parenting proceedings across New Hampshire. They also work with unmarried fathers to establish paternity and secure their parenting rights.

Grandparents’ Rights

Under New Hampshire law, grandparents have the right to petition the court for visitation. They can exercise this right when the child’s parents are divorced, legally separated, unmarried and living apart, or deceased. Courts weigh the benefit to the child, the existing grandparent-grandchild relationship and the opinions of any guardian ad litem. Our attorneys can advise grandparents on their legal options, which include visitation, guardianship and adoption.

Guardianship

A court-appointed guardianship gives you the legal authority to make decisions about a ward’s health, finances and personal welfare. The court must issue a formal guardianship order to make that authority official. Without one, a biological parent or another party retains the right to challenge your decisions. Our lawyers can guide you through the guardianship application process in New Hampshire.

Paternity

Establishing paternity creates a recognized legal relationship between a parent and child under New Hampshire law. It defines parental rights related to custody and parenting time. It can also secure the child’s right to financial support and clarifies inheritance rights. Our attorneys can guide you through the paternity filing process.

Stepparent Adoption

This type of adoption allows a stepparent to become the legal parent of a spouse’s child from a previous relationship. For the adoption to move forward, the other biological parent must voluntarily relinquish their parental rights. However, if they do not agree, our attorneys can help petition the court to terminate those rights.

Termination Of Parental Rights

Termination of parental rights is a permanent court action that ends all legal ties between a parent and their child. New Hampshire courts recognize several grounds for termination of parental rights, including:

• Chronic neglect or abuse
• Abandonment
• Substance abuse or mental illness that prevents proper care
• Failure to provide financial or emotional support
• Conviction of certain crimes

These proceedings can also come up in certain adoption cases. Our lawyers can represent parents, guardians and family members throughout the entire process.

These areas of law frequently overlap. If your situation involves more than one of these issues, our attorneys address them together in a coordinated approach tailored to your circumstances.