Child Custody Lawyer in Brooklyn

Are You Facing a Family Law Battle? Contact Us Now!

Child custody is often the most emotionally charged issue in any New York divorce. Since 1997, Coffinas & Lusthaus, P.C. has handled even the most complex cases.

When advocating for your parental rights or pursuing an appeal after a court decision affects your family, Coffinas & Lusthaus, P.C. delivers creative, effective legal representation. When you need to protect your children, our determined Brooklyn family law attorneys are known for strong advocacy that has shaped family law in New York.

Contact our trusted child custody lawyer in Brooklyn at (718) 717-1005 to schedule a confidential consultation.

Understanding Child Custody Courts in New York

New York courts divide child custody into two parts:

• Legal custody: The right and responsibility to make important decisions for the child
• Physical custody: The right and responsibility for the child’s day-to-day care and living arrangements

These forms of custody may be sole (assigned to one parent) or joint (shared by both parents). The court does not use parent gender as a factor when determining custody rights.

Factors Considered by New York Custody Courts

• Current primary caregiver responsibilities (the existing routine)
• Parenting skills, including supporting a child’s emotional and intellectual development
• The mental and physical health of each parent
• Allegations of domestic violence involving the family
• The child's connection with siblings and extended family
• The child’s wishes, as age and maturity allow
• The ability of each parent to work together and support the child’s relationship with both parents
• Each parent’s ability to meet any special needs of the child

In Brooklyn, custody hearings take place in Kings County Family Court on Jay Street. Judges expect parents to prioritize their child’s welfare, weighing school records, community involvement, and professional recommendations from the local area. Familiarity with Brooklyn Family Court processes and a deep understanding of judicial preferences in this borough can impact the direction of your case.

Building Effective Parenting Plans

New York courts encourage parents to create detailed parenting plans that outline how they will share time and responsibilities for their children. An effective parenting plan covers schedules for weekdays, weekends, holidays, and school breaks, and addresses how parents will make important decisions together. In Brooklyn, judges look for thoughtful plans that suit the family’s specific needs and align with the community resources available in the borough, such as proximity to schools and access to support services.

Working with experienced child custody attorneys helps families develop plans that minimize conflict and meet legal requirements. Every family is different; a strong parenting plan can support a child’s stability and allow both parents to maintain meaningful involvement. In neighborhoods across Brooklyn, families often adapt plans to account for unique factors, including busy public transportation routes, multi-language households, and school programs tailored to the borough’s diverse communities.

Parenting plans can grow and change as children get older or when family situations shift. Our attorneys work with clients to review and revise plans in order to reflect the child’s best interests and fit new circumstances, always putting the child’s needs at the center of every decision.

What to Expect When Custody is Contested

When parents cannot agree on custody, the court often appoints a forensic evaluator—a psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker selected by the court.

The evaluator examines each parent and the child, reviews possible parenting plan options, assesses parenting skills, investigates accusations of parental alienation, and sometimes submits a "best interest" recommendation to the court. Your attorney should understand how to review and, if warranted, challenge the findings as part of your custody case.

Parents in Brooklyn should prepare for a comprehensive evaluation involving interviews, home visits, and a review of past parenting. The evaluator’s report may heavily influence the court’s final decision. Many Brooklyn child custody disputes also involve establishing detailed visitation schedules, determining holiday arrangements, and considering how changes in the child’s home or school environment will affect the long-term outcome.

Navigating Visitation & Parental Access in Brooklyn

Visitation arrangements, also known as parental access, foster relationships between children and both parents after separation. Brooklyn courts review visitation proposals to ensure they support the child’s growth, safety, and ties to family and culture. Arrangements differ widely, from alternating weekends to shared weekday meals or rotating holidays that align with the family’s schedule.

Court decisions on access consider work hours, transportation, and extracurricular activities. Local community ties often factor into plans, especially within close-knit Brooklyn neighborhoods. When needs change or problems develop, we guide clients through requests to update visitation while always focusing on the child’s interests and consistent routines.

Modifying and Enforcing Child Custody Orders

Our Brooklyn family law attorneys work hard to help clients obtain the most favorable custody order possible. However, custody orders can change as family needs evolve.