At Kansas Legal Group, our child custody lawyers help families across Kansas navigate custody matters with clarity and confidence. Whether you are working toward an agreement or preparing for court, we focus on protecting your parental rights and creating solutions that support your child’s long-term well-being. No matter where you are in the process, our attorneys are prepared to guide you forward.
Getting Custody of Children in Kansas City
Free Case Evaluation
How The Courts Decide Custody
The Best Interest of the Child Rule
The main criteria used by the court when dealing with child custody in Kansas is what's known as "the best interests of the child." To reduce the stress of divorce and prevent damaging custody arrangements, it's crucial for everyone involved to keep this standard in mind. Considerations should include the children's ages, their emotional health, and their past and current relationships with each parent.
Free Case Evaluation
Understanding Child Custody in Kansas
When partnering with an experienced Kansas child custody attorney, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of the laws pertaining to divorce and child custody in Kansas. It’s important to become familiar with several key terms used in these discussions, including:
- Sole Custody: One parent has exclusive legal and physical rights
- Joint Legal Custody: Both parents share the responsibility for making major decisions about the child’s life, such as education, health care, and religious ubringing
- Physical Custody: Pertains to with whom the child will live.
- Custodial Parent: The parent with whom the child primarily resides.
- Non-Custodial Parent: The parent who does not have primary living arrangements with the child, typically having visitation rights.
Understanding these terms, and many more, will help you navigate the complexities of child custody in Kansas and help you better prepare for the custody process.
Factors Courts Use to Determine Child Custody
When deciding child custody in Kansas, courts evaluate several factors to determine what arrangement best serves the child. These factors may include:
-
The child’s age and emotional needs
-
Each parent’s ability to care for the child
-
The child’s relationship with each parent and other important figures
-
How well the child is adjusting to school, home, and community
-
Each parent’s ability to communicate and cooperate
-
The child’s preference, depending on age and maturity
No single factor determines the outcome. Courts weigh all relevant information to reach a decision that promotes stability and consistency.
Free Case Evaluation
Joint Custody vs. Full Custody
In Kansas, common custody configurations include sole physical custody and joint physical custody.
Joint Custody
Joint custody typically involves shared decision-making and, in some cases, shared parenting time. This arrangement allows both parents to remain actively involved in major decisions affecting the child. Joint custody often works best when parents can communicate effectively and cooperate in the child’s best interests.
Full Custody
Full custody, often referred to as sole custody, means one parent has primary decision making authority and physical custody. The other parent may still have visitation rights unless the court determines that contact would not serve the child’s best interest. Courts may award full custody when cooperation is not possible or when safety or stability concerns exist.
Modifying an Existing Child Custody Court Order
Custody arrangements aren't always permanent. As your child grows or your family’s circumstances change, you may find that your original court order no longer meets your child’s needs. In Kansas, you can request a custody modification if there has been a material change in circumstances and the change supports the best interests of the child.
Common reasons for modifying a custody order include a parent relocating, a change in employment, remarriage, health issues, or shifts in where the child lives most of the time. Because modifications require court approval, it’s important to approach them carefully and with a strong legal strategy.
Our team at Kansas Legal Group can help you determine whether a modification is possible and guide you through every step of the process.
Visitation: Reasonable vs. Fixed
When one parent has primary physical custody, the other parent typically receives visitation rights. In Kansas, visitation can be structured in one of two ways: reasonable or fixed.
Reasonable visitation gives parents the flexibility to create a schedule that works for both sides. This approach requires strong communication and mutual respect.
Fixed visitation establishes a detailed schedule in the court order, covering weekdays, weekends, holidays, school breaks, and exchange times. It offers clarity and consistency, reducing the chance of conflict.
The right visitation plan depends on your co-parenting dynamic and your child’s needs. Our attorneys can help you pursue a visitation schedule that supports your family and minimizes stress.
Hiring a Child Custody Attorney in Kansas
Child custody cases can be emotionally charged and legally complex. Working with an experienced Kansas child custody attorney helps ensure your rights are protected and that your case is presented clearly and effectively.
At Kansas Legal Group, we guide parents through every stage of the custody process. Whether you are negotiating an agreement, seeking a modification, or preparing for court, our attorneys work to secure outcomes that support your child’s well-being and your role as a parent.
Contact us today at (913) 456-5738 or fill out our free case evaluation form to speak with a child custody attorney today.
Need Help with Child Custody?
Call Kansas Legal Group at 913.456.5738 or get started with a complimentary case evaluation.
Free Case Evaluation
Frequently Asked Questions
The Ultimate Guide to Child Custody
The Ultimate Guide to Child Custody is here to help you navigate one of the most important decisions you'll ever make. Inside, you'll find clear explanations of custody types, your parental rights, and what to expect from the legal process—so you can move forward with confidence and peace of mind.
The Ultimate Guide to Child Custody
Contact Us
Overland Park Office (Main):
9300 W 110th Street
Suite 645
Overland Park, KS 66210
Phone:
913.456.5738
Email:
info@kansaslegalgroup.com
Hours:
Monday–Friday
8:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
1 p.m.–5 p.m.