Custody
Custody, settled around the children’s week
A custody order decides where the children sleep on a Tuesday and who has them at Thanksgiving. We write one that fits your family, for one fee.
The fee is flat for a first order or for a change to the one you have, through one mediation. It includes a parenting plan with a full holiday calendar, written so both homes can read it the same way.
If the other parent refuses to mediate and the case goes to trial, we quote the trial as its own flat fee before it starts.
In the custody fee
Petition or response, filed and served
A parenting plan with a holiday calendar
Preparing for and attending one mediation
An agreed order, or one hearing on temporary orders
How a custody case runs
Timing depends on the court and on whether the other parent responds quickly.
- 01
Step 1: The consult
You tell us the children’s ages, the schedule now and what you want to change.
- 02
Step 2: Filing and service
We file the petition and have the other parent served, or they sign a waiver.
- 03
Step 3: Mediation
Your lawyer prepares you and sits with you, on video or in person, through the session.
- 04
Step 4: The order
An agreed order goes to the judge to sign, and we send you a copy with the calendar.
Questions about custody
Can the children say where they want to live?
Courts may listen to older children, usually in a private interview with the judge. We talk through whether that helps your case.
What if the other parent moves away?
A move can be a reason to change the order. We look at the distance, the schedule and what the current order says about moving.
Is a custody evaluation part of the fee?
No. When a court orders one, the evaluator bills separately, and we tell you the usual range first.
Talk through the schedule with a lawyer
Bring the current order if you have one. We’ll tell you the fee on the call.