Family Law Attorney in White Plains

Child Custody & Visitation in White Plains

Custody arrangements address legal decision-making and a child’s primary care. Legal custody concerns authority over important decisions for the child, while physical custody concerns where the child primarily lives. The appropriate arrangement depends on the family’s circumstances and the child’s interests.

Visitation, also called parenting time, establishes when a parent who doesn’t have primary physical custody spends time with the child. New York’s family courts have jurisdiction over custody and visitation proceedings. Westchester Family Court in White Plains hears these matters for local families.

Support Orders & Modifications

New York’s Child Support Standards Act applies fixed percentages to combined parental income up to a statutory cap. The percentages are 17% for one child, 25% for two, 29% for three, 31% for four, and no less than 35% for five or more children. Additional considerations may affect the final obligation.

The formula appears in Domestic Relations Law §240(1-b) for divorce cases and Family Court Act §413 for other proceedings. Support for a spouse is a separate obligation that may be paid during or after a divorce, subject to the rules and facts applicable to the marriage.

A parent may have grounds to request modification of an existing support order when:

• There has been a substantial change in circumstances.
• Three years have passed since the order was entered or last modified.
• Either parent’s income has changed by 15% or more.

Eligibility depends on the order and applicable law. We examine the existing order, the claimed change, and the financial information relevant to the request.

Choosing the Right Court for a Family Matter

Westchester Family Court in White Plains hears matters involving children and families, including custody, visitation, financial support, guardianship, foster care, juvenile delinquency, and child abuse or neglect. It also handles paternity proceedings and certain domestic violence matters between family members.

Divorce, separation, and annulment proceedings must be brought in Supreme Court. A divorce may still involve custody, parenting time, and financial obligations. We explain how these issues connect and which court has authority to decide them.