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Family Law and Special Needs Children

One of the most difficult journeys in Family Law is taken by those parents who have special needs children.  I know, I’ve been there personally.  Our children are amazing AND they have needs that are often not anticipated or well handled by the family law system.  From determining which parent is better situated for primary caretaker to determining the income of the primary care parent for purposes of child support and spousal maintenance to helping the court determine which parent stays in the family home, having counsel that truly understands the needs of the family - the children and the parents - can make an enormous difference in the outcomes for your children, yourselves and your family.

There are four major types of special needs children:

  • Physical – muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, chronic asthma, epilepsy, etc.
  • Developmental – down syndrome, autism, dyslexia, processing disorders.
  • Behavioral/Emotional – ADD, ADHD, bi-polar, oppositional defiance disorder, etc. 
  • Each of these challenges requires different approaches, strategies and plans.

The goal of a healthy adult is founded in the healthy development of the child.  Healthy development in children requires functional, loving attention to their physical, cognitive, emotional and social development.  With high needs kids, early and consistent attention to these needs is imperative.  This is often overwhelming for parents. When we bring in the additional challenges of divorce and child custody, it is not hard to see where these kids can easily get left behind, particularly when you don’t have knowledgeable, compassionate, resourceful counsel.  

The unique care that these children need can make an enormous difference to the court in deciding which parent to award child custody. It is imperative that the court be made aware of the unique care required. If the child has a physical impairment, the court may focus on whether the parents’ homes are easily accessible and safe for the child. If the child has mental or emotional health issues, the court may focus on minimizing the disruption to the child’s life and attempt to keep the child as close as possible to their current schools, medical service providers, friends, etc. The court will look at the individual needs of the child, the history of their care, which parent has the established knowledge, ability and willingness to care for the child, and whether the other parent can obtain these skills. Only a knowledgeable child custody attorney can effectively bring this foundational information to the court’s attention.

Custody evaluators investigate and recommend outcomes in the best interests of the child. The custody evaluator’s report is probably the primary source of information about the children to the court.  These evaluators must be carefully researched and tested for their knowledge about special needs children and the required care that they need.  An experienced family law attorney will have done that work.

Cossitt Family Law has a history of championing the best interests of these children.  We help families to not only develop strategies and structure around the needs of these children, we integrate that into the requirements of the case.  With both personal and professional experience, we bring in the ability to look at the present legal situation as part of the greater challenge of parenting, providing much needed perspective and attention to areas that can make an enormous difference for these children, our clients and the families.  We regularly work with a group of legal and non-legal professionals, making sure that our knowledge is cutting edge so that we can help special needs families’ transition through these legal challenges and get on with their lives in a positive and healthy way.

For more resources see: https://www.specialneedsalliance.org/.


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Emergency Child Custody & Endangerment


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Parenting Plan



As all families are unique, one form of parenting plan will not meet the needs of every family. The best parenting plan will be well developed and custom tailored to the individuals involved. Some parenting plans incorporate terms that will apply far into the future, as when a child emancipates into adulthood.
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Modification of Child Custody


As life changes, child custody orders may no longer fit your needs or circumstances. When this occurs, seeking a child custody modification can be necessary to officially change court orders related to parenting time and/or decision-making responsibilities.

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Guide to Parenting Time


Formerly known as child visitation, Parenting Time outlines the schedule and conditions under which each parent may see their children

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Holiday Parenting Time


What holidays do you celebrate and how do you enjoy them? We can assist with crafting a holiday parenting time schedule to meet the needs of everyone involved.
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Parenting Time Schedules


Every child custody case will have a parenting plan that details the schedule so each parent may enjoy parenting time with their child. The schedule is commonly broken into three categories.
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Long Distance Parentings


When parents relocate away from one another, the schedule should be molded to the accommodate logistics, travel costs, and the quality time between parents and children.
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Testimonials

  • "I am very appreciative of Toms services. English is a second language to me, and this process seemed difficult because of that barrier. He was very patient and thorough making sure I understood everything before he proceeded. I will recommend him to everyone! He truly cares about you, as does his wonderful, helpful team"

    Abigail
    Review from AVVO

  • "I had a very challenging case, one that could have had indefinite financial consequences. Tom Cossitt evaluated my case and identified several strategies for moving forward. I chose one and Tom developed and implemented that strategy with speed and with the utmost in professionalism. The documents he drafted on my behalf, based on extensive research and case law / precedent were thorough and comprehensive. When the Court ruled, it used the arguments as developed by Tom Cossitt verbatim in its decision, and the case was decided in my favor. Needless to say, I was pleased beyond words. Based on my experience and the outcome of my case, I would highly recommend Tom Cossitt to anyone requiring the services of a family law attorney."

    Dan
    Review from Google

  • "I met with as many as 10 different attorneys before coming across Thomas. After our initial consultation, I was very pleased with his knowledge and realistic expectations. During the really tough time, Thomas kept me calm and helped tremendously to get custody of my daughter. He kept me informed on what was going on and would ask for my input; if it was something that was unrealistic or could be done a different way, Thomas would tell me right away. During the hearings, he was amazing. He kept a professional attitude and was great at cross examinations. He took in all of the facts and evidence, and was able to present them efficiently and effectively. Ultimately helping me gain custody of my child."

    Mitchell
    Review from AVVO

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