I live in Wilmington, NC. My wife has informed me that she wants a divorce. I am very concerned about when I will be able to see my kids. What is Temporary Custody and how will it affect me?

A temporary custody order establishes a court ordered or approved arrangement, so the parents have a set plan in place for custody. Once a party has filed for custody, it can take weeks or months before the parties, attorneys and the court are ready to hear the case. During that time, the parties may have difficultly agreeing on a schedule for the child to visit each parent. A temporary order is useful when the parents are unable to agree on visitation but not able to have a full custody hearing due to time and preparation needed to prepare for a permanent custody hearing.

The scope of a temporary order can range from anything to creating a schedule for the parties to follow, preventing one parent from withholding the child from the other, preventing a party from moving with the child, and even protect the child from an unsafe environment with one parent. The temporary custody order is a very important first step in securing your involvement in the lives or your children after a marriage ends. It is critical that you are intentional and deliberate in your approach to matters such as this very early on in the process.

You can speak to an experienced, knowledgeable, caring divorce and custody attorney about your temporary custody options in New Hanover County, Pender County, Brunswick County, Wilmington, Hampstead, Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, or Hampstead North Carolina today.