Establishing an order
The first custody, visitation and support order in a divorce or a paternity case, which is the one every later argument is measured against.
Custody and support
This is the one you cannot afford to get wrong.
Custody, visitation and support decide the shape of your week with your children for years. Knollmeyer Law Office has represented Arkansas parents on both sides of these cases for over 40 years.
Free consultation · No obligation · Central Arkansas
What is really at stake
Nobody is arguing about a schedule
On paper a custody case is about days of the week and dollar figures. In practice you are worried about your child and your relationship with your child, and whether the person on the other side of this is going to act in good faith once the court stops watching.
That fear pushes people into two mistakes. Some concede far too much to keep the peace, and find out later how hard an order is to undo. Others fight everything on principle and spend money their children needed on a point that was never going to change the outcome.
The useful thing at this stage is a clear read on which parts of your case are genuinely contestable and which are not.
How we help
What we handle
Modifications
Relocations, changed work schedules, a change in a child's needs or a change in either parent's income. Circumstances move and orders can move with them.
Enforcement
When an order is being ignored, contempt proceedings put it back in front of the judge who made it.
Why us
Forty years of these cases, in these courthouses
Custody outcomes turn on preparation and credibility far more than on argument. What the proof shows about each parent's involvement, and whether what you tell the court holds up, matter more than anything said in closing.
We will tell you honestly what your case will look like to the court, including the parts that are not in your favor, because a parent who knows that going in makes better decisions than one who does not.
- Custody trials
- Custody and visitation arrangements
- Child support and modifications
- Paternity and adoption matters
- Grandparent visitation and custody
Common questions
What parents ask us
Can a custody order be changed later?
Yes. Orders can be modified when circumstances change substantially. A relocation, a change in work schedule, a remarriage, a change in a child's needs or bad parenting are often substantial changes in circumstances. A court will not revisit an order simply because a parent is unhappy with it.
What if the other parent is ignoring the order?
An order that is being violated can be enforced, and contempt proceedings exist for exactly that. Keep a written record of what has actually happened, dates included, and bring it to the consultation.
How is child support calculated?
Arkansas uses guidelines that work from the parents' incomes and the parenting arrangement, with adjustments for things like health insurance and childcare. It is more formulaic than most people expect, which also means an inaccurate income figure on the paperwork matters a great deal.
Does my child get a say?
A court can consider the preference of a child who is old enough and mature enough for it to carry weight, but it is one factor among many rather than the deciding vote. It is also rarely helpful to put a child in the position of choosing.
Do we have to go to court?
Not necessarily. Parents who can reach a workable agreement almost always end up with a better arrangement than one imposed on them, and it costs far less. However, being ready to try the case is what leads to a good settlement.
Get a straight read on your custody case
Call us for a free consultation. We will go through your situation and tell you what is realistically achievable.
Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM