Child Custody: What Types Are Realistic for Your Situation?

Tough child custody battles can be one of the hardest things a person may go through in life. Anytime the well-being of your child is involved, emotions can run really high. With that in mind, you should first think to yourself, how am I going to get through this while remaining calm and collected? One of the answers is: Hire an experienced divorce attorney at the Lake of the Ozarks to guide you through this tough, emotional time. Keep reading this week's blog to learn what the different types of child custody are. To reach Gibbons Law Firm and get your child custody and divorce-related questions answered, call (573) 348-2211. Your initial consultation is FREE.

Child Custody: What Types Are Realistic for Your Situation?

SOLE CUSTODY

Sole physical custody
Only one parent is awarded custody of the child.  This generally occurs when one of the parents is deemed unfit to have custody of the child for one or more reasons.

Sole legal custody
One parent has the decision-making rights, responsibilities, and authority relating to the health, education, and welfare of the child.  The parent that has sole legal custody must keep the other parent apprised of decisions/issues related to the health, education, and welfare of the child.

JOINT CUSTODY

Joint physical custody
This involves an arrangement whereby each of the parents are awarded significant, but not necessarily equal, periods of time during which a child resides with or is under the care and supervision of each of the parents.  Joint physical custody must be shared by the parents in such a way as to assure the child of frequent, continuing and meaningful contact with both parents.  A number of custody arrangements are possible with a joint physical custody arrangement.  The arrangements can include an equal split of time with the children to a situation whereby one parent has custody every other weekend with extended time in the summer.

Joint legal custody
This involves both parents have the legal right to make real-life decisions concerning the child's schooling, curricular-activities, healthcare, etc,

Joint physical and legal custody
This involves both parents sharing physical and legal custody of their children. These parents no longer cohabitate but create a shared schedule of time with their children.

Have Questions About Your Child Custody?

Knowledge is power. Get your questions answered by an experienced child custody attorney at the Lake of the Ozarks today. Gibbons Law Firm is here for you. You can reach us at the phone number listed below. You can also follow us on our social media platforms listed below to stay as up to date as possible on our latest announcements. Remember, the legal aspects of family law can be highly complex and highly sensitive and emotional because of the personal nature of the disputes. An experienced and knowledgeable attorney—with the ability to listen and counsel clients, investigate and negotiate cases, to defuse conflict, and, when necessary, to litigate a case—is important to a successful outcome of a family law case.


Remember, your initial consultation with Gibbons Law Firm is always free.

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Gibbons Law Firm

2820 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite B4

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 348-2211

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Why Some People Sign Prenups

Prenups or prenuptial agreements - this topic isn't discussed very much but for some couples, it can serve as a perfect solution to certain dilemmas. To be clear, a prenuptial agreement is an agreement a couple will put in place before the marriage takes place that states who owns certain assets. This agreement can protect your assets in the event that your marriage ends in a divorce. This agreement isn't for everyone but for those of you who are considering it, you should know the facts. Keep reading this week's blog for a few reasons why some people may sign prenuptial agreements. If you would like to learn more about prenups, please call our attorneys at the Lake of the Ozarks today. Gibbons Law Firm can be reached at (573) 348-2211 for your free consultation.

Why Some People Sign Prenups

MAKE DIVORCE EASIER IF IT DOES HAPPEN.
A prenup can have all assets, debts, and other factors split up before you even enter into marriage. This can help to fairly disperse all belongings and make the divorce process less stressful.

EASE YOUR CONCERNS WHEN ENTERING INTO A SECOND MARRIAGE.
Children, support obligations, and a home with a previous spouse can all affect your second marriage. It's important to protect your assets and help to make sure your financial burdens stay your own if your next marriage does not work out.

PROTECT YOURSELF IF YOU'RE MARRYING SOMEONE WITH A TON OF DEBT.
When you marry someone, you can be partially responsible for their financial debt. If your marriage ends, you may be stuck with part of this debt load, even if you did not help accrue it. A prenup can help to make sure you are not burdened with debt that is not yours.

PROTECT YOURSELF IN THE EVENT YOU DIVORCE WHILE YOU HAVE NO JOB BECAUSE YOU'RE TAKING CARE OF THE CHILDREN.
If you plan to quit your job to start raising children, it can impact your income in a major way. A prenup can help to ensure that the financial burden of raising the children is shared fairly by both partners.

MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT FINANCIALLY TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF.
If you or your partner has substantially more money than the other, a prenup can help to protect your assets. This can also help ensure that someone is not marrying you for your money, and for who you are. It's important to protect your assets when you enter into a marriage.

Are You Considering Signing a Prenup?

If so, we urge you to speak to an experienced lawyer in Mid-MO first before doing anything. Understand what you're getting into first and really figure out if this is the right decision for you your future spouse. If it is, Gibbons Law Firm can help you. We can be reached at the phone number listed below. You can also follow us on our social media platforms listed below to stay up to date on our latest announcements.


Remember, your initial consultation with Gibbons Law Firm is always free.

Your Trusted Legal Resource

Gibbons Law Firm

2820 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite B4

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 348-2211

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Is THIS True About Divorce?

Divorce can feel really intimidating to someone who doesn't know what to expect. It's not something you really plan for because you don't see it coming when you choose to get married. When you marry someone you don't think about divorcing them as you are pledging your vows "until death do you part". Divorce happens and about 50 percent of marriages end that way. There are many myths about divorce. Our divorce lawyers at the Lake of the Ozarks are here to clear up a few of these myths and set the record straight in this week's blog. If you are in need of an experienced divorce attorney at the Lake of the Ozarks, please give us a call. Gibbons Law Firm can be reached at (573) 348-2211, your first consultation will be free.

Is THIS True About Divorce?

MYTH: PREVENTING YOUR EX FROM SEEING YOUR CHILDREN IF THEY DON'T PAY CHILD SUPPORT IS LEGAL.
If one parent has been awarded full or primary custody, the other parent may be ordered to pay child support to help shoulder the financial responsibility of raising children. If one parent neglects to provide the child support payments as directed, the other parent may decide to withhold visitation rights until the money is received. However, this is an illegal act that can result in legal consequences on the custodial parent's part. If your spouse is neglecting to pay child support, you should consult with an attorney to determine the best course of action.

MYTH: YOU CAN'T GET DIVORCED UNLESS ADULTERY WAS COMMITTED.
Missouri (along with most other states) is a no-fault divorce state. This means that you can file for divorce even if your spouse has not committed some form of marital misconduct, such as adultery. All that spouses are required to prove is that there is "no reasonable likelihood that the marriage can be preserved, and that the marriage is irretrievably broken."

MYTH: YOU HAVE TO GET DIVORCED IN A COURTROOM.
The media likes to sensationalize high-stakes, highly combative divorces as they are battled out in the courtroom, but the truth is that many divorces can be settled outside of court. This process, known as mediation, involves an attorney serving as an impartial third party serving as the liaison between the spouses as they determine how their assets and responsibilities should be divided. This method of divorce is often much more efficient, cost-effective, and less stressful.

MYTH: FULL CHILD CUSTODY WILL BE AWARDED TO THE PRIMARY PARENT.
Though you may have been your children's primary caregiver in the past, this fact will not guarantee your right to full custody of your children after the divorce. The Court will award custody to the parent who is believed to be able to best provide for the child's best interests. During the proceedings, you and your attorney will have to prove to the Court that you fit this description.

Divorce is tough but you CAN get through it and not be taken advantage of financially. Our divorce lawyers in Mid-Missouri can help you. Give us a call at Gibbons Law Firm today. We can answer your questions and guide you through this difficult process. We can be reached at the number listed below and you can follow us on our social media platforms listed below to stay up to date on our latest legal tips and announcements.


Remember, your initial consultation with Gibbons Law Firm is always free.

Your Trusted Legal Resource

Gibbons Law Firm

2820 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite B4

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 348-2211

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Evidence Examples To Gather In a Personal Injury Case

Personal injury cases - this could mean a number of different types of cases ranging from car accidents, motorcycle accidents, boating accidents, business torts, defective products, premises liability, sexual harassment, discrimination, workers’ compensation, or wrongful death. In this week's blog, our personal injury attorneys at the Lake of the Ozarks are here to give you a few examples of pieces of evidence that you may want to gather when you're in the middle of a personal injury case. If you find yourself injured in an accident caused by the negligence of someone else, please call Gibbons Law Firm today to get the compensation you deserve. We can be reached at 573-348-2211. Your initial consultation will be free.

Evidence Examples To Gather In a Personal Injury Case

Pictures
It is important that you take as many photos as you can. For example, if your personal injury case is a car accident, be sure to get photos of everything. Take photos of the entire car, every damaged area. It doesn't hurt to take photos of your injures if any as well. These photos may be very beneficial in court, but also with your insurance company. Print them out, if you can. Keep a digital file as well. Having back up records is a good idea.

Medical Records
If you sustained any injuries from your accident that was caused by another person, keep the medical records from the healthcare facility you go to for your injuries. It's important you can prove how much you had to pay for your injuries so there's a clear reason you are seeking that amount in compensation.

Receipts of Medical Supplies You Had to Buy
If you had to pay for a wheelchair or crutches, for example, out of your own pocket, keep all of these receipts. This will be important for your attorney to have when fighting for the compensation you seek.

Get The Personal Injury Attorney You Deserve and Call Gibbons Law Firm Today!

All of us here at Gibbons Law Firm hope that you found this blog helpful and enlightening when it comes to your personal injury case. You deserve the very best legal representation you can get when it comes to situations like this. If you are in the middle of a tough legal case concerning an accident you were involved in, don't go through this alone and call an experienced attorney you can count on. Having successfully tried hundreds of cases, Roger Gibbons has the experience and resources to give you an opportunity for a successful outcome on your personal injury case. Find out more about how we can assist you by contacting our Firm and making an appointment today. Be sure to follow us on our social media channels listed below to stay up to date on our latest announcements.



Remember, your initial consultation with Gibbons Law Firm is always free.

Your Trusted Legal Resource

Gibbons Law Firm

2820 Bagnell Dam Blvd, Suite B4

Lake Ozark, MO 65049

(573) 348-2211

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