child custody

Gourley, Rehkemper & Lindholm PLC

Child Custody - Paternity

A child is a precious gift. We know that feeling. Regardless of the situation involving a child custody dispute, it can be one of the most stressful and painful ordeals of a parent's life without the assurance of having a Des Moines family law lawyer who knows Iowa child custody laws.

At Gourley, Rehkemper & Lindholm, our child custody lawyers know Iowa child custody laws. If you are in the process of a child custody dispute, we'll use our aggressiveness and determination to fight for your rights. We'll ensure that the court is made aware of all factors that may influence its decision about custody. You aren't alone; we'll be there with you every step of the way.

child custody orders in divorce actions

If you have children and you are considering divorce, custody is one of the issues that is likely weighing on your mind. Every divorce action involving children will include a child custody order. When the divorce is filed, the court will order temporary custody. In the final divorce order, the court will include an order for legal and physical custody of the children. So if you are considering divorce, it may help you to know that our child custody lawyers know all of Iowa's child custody laws, and we will use every bit of our knowledge to fight for your custody rights and preserve your bonds with your child.

We invite you to contact us for a free initial consultation to discuss your child custody situation. We will explain Iowa's child custody laws, and help you to understand what actions you can take immediately and in the future to preserve your custody rights. We'll take immediate action to protect your child, if you feel that he or she may be in danger. And we will be there with you throughout the custody process, ensuring that you know what to expect at every turn.

change of court orders for child custody

Iowa court orders include two types of custody provisions. The first is for legal custody of a child. Legal custody means making the important decisions about a child's life, such as where the child lives or goes to school. The second custody provision is for physical custody. Physical custody is the actual placement (sometimes called visitation) of the child. Physical custody has two components: primary physical placement, which is where the child lives or resides most of the time, and periods of physical placement, which is often called visitation.

In most instances, legal custody is awarded to parents jointly. Primary placement for physical custody is sometimes made jointly, but is usually designated with one parent, while the other parent has periods of physical placement (for example, on weekends).

stepparent adoptions

In Iowa, stepparent adoptions are very common, and stepparents frequently want to give their stepchildren their surname, provide insurance, and combine the family in a more unified manner.

grandparent's visitation rights

If you are a grandparent who wants to spend time with your grandchild, the family law attorneys at GRL can help. We know custody laws. We also know how to get visitations rights for a grandparent. Please contact our office to talk with a family law attorney.

Know Your Rights * Exercise Your Rights * Preserve Your Freedom

At Gourley, Rehkemper & Lindholm, our divorce and family attorneys represent people in every type of family law matter, including those listed above, and child visitation and child support, alimony, unmarried child custody rights, adoption, fathers' rights, paternity actions, domestic violence and orders for protection.

Contact our law firm today. We offer free consultations and evening and weekend appointments to meet all of your family law needs, whether you're going through a divorce or are fighting for child custody.

From our offices in Des Moines, Iowa, we give high-quality representation to people throughout the State of Iowa, including Polk, Warren, Dallas, Boone, Story, and Marion counties, and the cities of Des Moines, Ames, Indianola, Adel, Boone, Nevada, Urbandale, West Des Moines, Waukee, and Knoxville