Reston, VA Visitation Attorney

Reliable Family Law Attorney Assisting With Visitation Schedules in Reston, Virginia

A parental divorce or separation can disrupt your children's lives, inviting uncertainty and confusion. As parents, it is natural to want to minimize the adverse effects on our children as much as possible, but that is much easier said than done. A Reston child custody lawyer can help you create a parenting plan that respects your parental rights and promotes stability for your children.

At Nicole M. Burns, Attorney at Law, our family law attorney not only has extensive legal experience, but she also has comprehensive practical knowledge centered around developmental child psychology and the impact parental discord can have on children. These benefits, combined with our fierce determination and individualized treatment, make us the right choice to assist with your child custody and visitation needs. We can help you develop a new plan, modify or enforce existing orders, and dispute or establish legal paternity.

Establishing a Visitation Schedule That Makes Sense for Your Children

Traditionally, the mother had primary custody of her children after a separation or divorce, with the father having periodic visitation. Times have changed since, and now the court considers the child's best interests before all else when creating visitation schedules. Factors to consider include:

• The work schedule of both parents
• The distance between parental residences
• The children's level of involvement in their school, extracurricular activities, and work
• The children's ages and developmental needs
• Any situation that could endanger the children, which could necessitate supervised visitation
• The children's preferences, factoring in maturity
• Each parent's fitness to take care of the child

Children with special needs may be upset more than other children by changes in their routines. You should exercise caution to adapt your visitation schedule to your children's needs and best interests.

The exact division of custody and visitation can vary from family to family. Some children spend a week at a time with each parent. Others rotate days in each household, meaning they are almost constantly traveling between them. An irregular schedule can make planning for events like birthday parties and sporting events difficult. If that type of schedule suits your children's needs best, you may need to work out a flexible agreement with your co-parent.

We will work with you closely to develop a visitation schedule that reflects every detail of your family's situation. We know it is hard to realize your children will be away from you, so you can count on our full support.

Modifying Your Visitation Schedule in Virginia

As time passes, your children's needs change. One parent may choose to relocate, preventing regular visitation. You or your co-parent may change jobs and be required to work a shift that does not allow you to be home when your children are. These changes in your circumstances may necessitate a modification of your visitation and custody arrangements. Our attorney can help you petition for a formal modification through the courts, working out a new agreement in your child's best interests.

Gaining Custodial Time in Virginia

In Virginia, if you have a "legitimate interest," you may be able to gain visitation rights to specific children. This right is sometimes extended to grandparents, step-parents, and other relatives.

If you are an unmarried father and you separate from your children's mother, you may need to establish legal paternity to gain any parental and visitation rights. You would also assume parental obligations, including the potential of paying child support.

The best way to determine whether you could petition for visitation rights is to call our office and arrange a consultation. Once we learn the specifics of your situation, we can offer case-specific advice and guidance.

Contact Our Virginia Visitation Attorney

Whether you need assistance creating or modifying your child custody and visitation arrangements, Nicole M. Burns, Attorney at Law is ready to help protect your parental rights while considering your children's best interests. To get started, schedule an appointment for your case review today by contacting us online or via phone at 703-373-4761.