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Uncontested and contested divorce, marital property, and seeking an order of protection.
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Home / Family Law / Custody & Visitation
Child Custody and Visitation Lawyer in Rogers, Arkansas
For parents and grandparents in Northwest Arkansas with a custody, visitation, or paternity question.
Who this is for
Kirby Nix handles custody and visitation cases, whether the court is deciding custody for the first time or you want to change an order you already have.
We also handle paternity cases and grandparent visitation. Every consultation can be in English or Spanish.
How custody is decided
When a court first decides custody in a divorce or paternity case, Arkansas law generally favors joint custody, and the court looks at the child's best interest. A different arrangement takes proof that it's better for the child.
The legal standard is simple, but the facts of a custody case can get complicated.
Visitation
We help parents work out a custody and visitation schedule, whether in a divorce, a paternity case, or a case to change an existing order. Like custody, visitation is decided by what's in the child's best interest.
Changing an existing order
If you already have a custody or visitation order, from a divorce or a paternity case, and you want to change it, we handle that too. Changing an existing custody order has its own requirements, generally a material change in circumstances.
To change child support, see changing child support.
Paternity
We handle paternity cases with or without the Arkansas Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE), including when OCSE has sued you.
Paternity is rarely the only issue. It usually comes with custody, visitation, child support, or all three.
Grandparent visitation
We also handle grandparent visitation cases. These cases have different requirements from a parent's case. The law presumes a parent knows what's best for their child, so a grandparent has to overcome that.
Questions
Custody and visitation questions
Don't see your question? Call (479) 878-7144 and we'll answer it.
Will we share custody?
That's generally where the court starts when it first decides custody, based on the child's best interest. See How custody is decided above.
Can I get primary custody?
It may be possible, but it takes proof. Because Arkansas law generally favors joint custody when a court first decides custody, a different arrangement, like primary custody for one parent, takes proof that it's better for the child. We look at the facts of your case and the evidence that may support it.
Can I change our custody order?
It may be possible. Changing an existing custody order has its own requirements, generally a material change in circumstances. We handle changes to custody and visitation orders, including orders from a divorce.
I was contacted about paternity. Can you help?
Yes, whether or not the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) is involved, including when OCSE has sued you. Paternity is rarely the only issue, so we also look at custody, visitation, and child support.
Can grandparents ask for visitation?
In some situations, yes. These cases have different requirements from a parent's case. The law presumes a parent knows what's best for their child, so a grandparent has to overcome that.
Child Support
How support is calculated, cases with OCSE, and changing or enforcing support.
See child supportFamily Law
Divorce, custody, guardianship, adoption, and child support.
See family law