Child custody can be the most contentious and emotional issue in a divorce. Parents and children will need experienced counsel to negotiate an arrangement that suits both the child's needs and wishes and those of the parents. Divorce can take a significant emotional toll on a child. A solid custody arrangement will minimize the stress on both the child and the parents. It will also allow each parent to provide the best care he or she can for the child. Under New Jersey law, child custody is comprised of legal custody and physical custody (parent of primary residence). Legal custody deals with who has the right to make important decisions for a child relating to health, education, welfare and religious beliefs. These decisions include where the child goes to school, and how he or she receives medical treatment, enjoys extra curricula activities, and other serious issues. Physical custody, or parent of primary residence designation, deals with whom the child lives, and parenting time between the parents. One parent may be the residential parent but both parents have parenting time with the child.

The Law Offices of Sterling Rauf, Esquire have over 32 years of experience in handling child custody disputes, and Sterling Rauf has served as a children law specialist on the Children Law Panel of the English Law Society.

The best child custody option is for divorcing or separating parents to negotiate custody arrangements without court intervention. Our clients’ custody disputes require an attorney with experience negotiating and litigating child custody cases.

The Law Offices of Sterling Rauf, Esq., have the experience needed to properly represent clients during custody and parenting time disputes, placing our client and our client’s children first.