CUSTODY, SUPPORT AND VISITATION
The Order of the Judge must say who lives with the kids primarily. Often, but not always, the Mother. The father often threatens that he will get custody when there is no way in the world he would ever get it. This frightens many of my female clients unnecessarily. The person who has the living environment that is best for the children is the one who gets custody. A mother who has raised the children from the beginning has a big advantage in any custody fight. As always, it is up to the Judge.
Child support and wife support (alimony or maintenance) is determined by numerous factors in the law. The very first order of child support obtained must be fair. If its not, it will haunt you for ever and ever because it will be used whenever you try to change the amounts. Utmost care must be used in getting an Order of Support.
Visitation. Visitation is the right to see your kids midweek, weekends, holidays, overnights, vacations, and school and personal affairs of the child. Courts are clear that visitation is a right far more precious that property rights. It has nothing to do with whether or not you are supporting the kids initially. A father has a right to visitation and any mother who interferes with that can have problems.