Custody is often the most emotional and contentious issue to be resolved during the divorce and the paternity process. Even long after a final judgment and decree of divorce or a paternity order, Custody issues can and will continue to arise.

The attorneys at Stange Law Firm LLC bring years of hands-on experience in custody cases to helping clients in the Greater St. Louis area. We employ strong advocacy for our clients, combined with an empathetic, personal approach. We are selective in the cases we handle, thus you can be assured that your case will receive the personal attention it deserves.

We represent clients in matters involving:
Child custody
Visitation and parenting time
Fathers' rights
Moving
Paternity as it relates to custody and visitation
Modifications in custody and visitation
Grandparents' rights
There are two types of custody:

Legal Custody - Legal custody refers to the legal right of parents to make important decisions concerning their child’s welfare, including the right to decide the child’s education, religious training, health issues and child discipline. If both parents have joint legal custody, they much agree on decisions affecting the minor children. If one parent has sole legal custody, they get to make final decisions when the two cannot agree on issues after they confer.

Physical Custody - Physical custody refers to where a child physically lives and the custody schedule that is in place. If the custody arrangement is joint, this means that the custody arrangement involves each parent having roughly equivalent amounts of time. If a child spends significantly more time at one parent's home versus the other, physical custody is typically called sole with the other parent having temporary custody and visitation rights.
What if we have an agreement regarding custody?

If both parents have reached an agreement on custody and parenting time, this will make the case a lot easier. However, please know that informal agreements are not enforceable until a judge signs a judgment ratifying that agreement. This means that either party can choose to renege on any informal agreement not court approved. This is why it is crucial to formalize these agreements with the signature of a judge.
Achieving Your Child Custody and Visitation Goals

Stange Law Firm LLC works to achieve your goals through the appropriate means. We will place a priority on attempting to negotiate an amicable settlement for your situation. Should you desire, we can attempt to have the other party to agree to attend mediation.

Sometimes, however, the parties cannot agree and the dispute is so contentious that litigation is required to achieve a client's goals. In these cases, Stange Law Firm LLC will undertake energetic litigation to protect your rights and the best interests of your child or children. We will take your case to a final trial before the judge, as we have done in many prior cases, if you are unable to reach an acceptable settlement with the other party.

Our firm has successfully obtained sole custody and joint custody for numerous clients. We pledge to always place the highest priority on the children involved in the cases we handle. Our firm will not accept a custody case if we believe that it is not in the children's best interest to reside with the parent who is requesting custody. This selectivity ensures that we believe in you and your case, and that we are protecting your children's interests as well as your own.
Working with a Guardian Ad Litem

In some custody cases, the judge may appoint a guardian ad litem to determine what is best for the children. In Missouri, a Guardian ad Litem is required in all cases where abuse or neglect is alleged. The guardian will meet with both parties and will investigate the background of the parties, their living conditions, their relationships and any other issues related to the welfare of the children. Our lawyers are skilled in working with guardians ad litem to ensure that they have the proper information and that our client is presented in the best possible light.

At Stange Law Firm LLC, we understand that your children are important to you. We will work to achieve your child custody and visitation goals so that you can enjoy meaningful parental relationships with your child.