Protecting Your Relationship
Child Custody
Your relationship with your children is everything. Matt helps parents fight for custody arrangements that protect their kids and preserve that bond.
What Idaho Courts Look At
Courts decide custody based on the "best interests of the child." Here's what that really means.
Parent-Child Relationship
How involved is each parent? Who helps with homework, attends activities, handles doctor visits? Courts want to see who's been actively parenting, not just present.
Stability
Kids do better with stability. Courts look at each parent's living situation, work schedule, and ability to provide a stable home. Frequent moves or chaotic lifestyles can hurt your case.
Willingness to Co-Parent
Courts favor parents who support the child's relationship with the other parent. Badmouthing, blocking communication, or alienating the child from the other parent looks very bad.
Safety Concerns
History of domestic violence, substance abuse, or neglect matters a lot. Courts prioritize the child's safety. If there are real concerns, Matt knows how to present evidence effectively.
Child's Adjustment
How is the child doing in their current school? Do they have friends? Are they thriving? Courts hesitate to disrupt a child who's doing well unless there's a good reason.
Child's Wishes
If the child is old enough (usually pre-teen or teen), the court may consider what they want. But it's not the only factor - judges won't let a child decide if the preference isn't in their best interest.
Types of Custody Arrangements
Joint Physical Custody
Child spends significant time with both parents. Common arrangements: week on/week off, 2-2-3 schedule, or 3-4-4-3 schedule. Works best when parents live close and can communicate civilly.
Best for: Parents who can work together and live in the same area.
Primary Physical Custody
Child lives mainly with one parent; the other has regular visitation (often every other weekend plus one weeknight, plus holidays and summer time).
Best for: When one parent has been the primary caregiver, or parents live far apart.
Sole Custody
One parent has both physical and legal custody. The other may have supervised visitation or no contact. Courts order this when one parent poses a risk to the child.
Best for: Situations involving abuse, neglect, or serious safety concerns.
How Matt Fights for You
Build Your Case
Matt helps you document your involvement in your child's life - school records, medical appointments, activities, daily routines. He'll identify witnesses who can speak to your parenting.
Address Concerns
If the other parent is raising issues about you (true or not), Matt develops a strategy to address them. If you have legitimate concerns about the other parent, he knows how to present that evidence effectively.
Negotiate When Possible
Custody trials are brutal for everyone, especially kids. Matt pushes for settlement when it's in your child's best interest. But he won't accept a bad deal just to avoid court.
Fight in Court
When trial is necessary, Matt is ready. With 50+ trials under his belt, he knows how to present your case to a judge and fight for the custody arrangement your children deserve.
Need to Change an Existing Order?
Custody orders can be modified when circumstances change. Matt handles modifications for:
Job or Schedule Changes
New job, different hours, or relocation can justify modifying custody.
Child's Needs Changed
As kids grow, their needs change. What worked at age 5 might not work at 15.
Safety Concerns
New evidence of abuse, neglect, or substance abuse can warrant emergency changes.
Other Parent Violating Order
Repeated violations can be grounds for modifying the arrangement.
Custody Questions Answered
Legal custody is the right to make major decisions about your child - education, healthcare, religion. Physical custody is where the child lives. You can have joint legal custody (both parents decide together) but primary physical custody (child lives mostly with one parent). Idaho courts often award joint legal custody but vary on physical custody.
It's the standard Idaho courts use to make custody decisions. They look at: each parent's relationship with the child, the child's adjustment to home and school, each parent's mental and physical health, any history of domestic violence, and the child's wishes (if they're old enough). Matt helps you present evidence that shows why your proposed arrangement serves your child's best interests.
Not without permission if there's a custody order. Idaho requires you to get the other parent's agreement or court approval before relocating with your child. The court will consider how the move affects the child's relationship with the other parent. Matt can help you with relocation cases - whether you want to move or you're opposing a move.
There's no magic age. Idaho law says the court may consider the child's wishes if they're old enough and mature enough to form a reasonable preference. Judges typically give more weight to teenagers' preferences, but it's never the only factor. The child's best interests - not just their preference - controls the outcome.
Document every violation. If your ex regularly ignores the custody schedule or makes unilateral decisions, Matt can file a motion for contempt. Courts take custody violations seriously. Repeated violations can result in fines, makeup time, and even changes to the custody arrangement.
Fighting for Custody?
Your relationship with your children is too important to leave to chance. Get experienced help.