Minnesota Lawyer Helping Form Child Custody Agreements

Twin Cities Child Custody Attorney
Mediator Michael C. Black

Whether you are going through a divorce or have had a baby out of wedlock, the child custody agreement you make will have a significant impact on your future. As with divorce agreements, child custody and visitation agreements are generally more successful when parents have worked together to craft one that suits their particular family. An experienced family law attorney can help.

I'm attorney Michael Black, a family lawyer with more than 30 years of courtroom experience and fourteen years of mediation experience. Whether you need the supported negotiation of mediation, a more formal process of arbitration or a trial to form a custody agreement, I can help. My services include:

• Drafting an agreement you have already reached
• Representing you in court regarding a child custody matter
• Establishing or interpreting existing child custody orders
• Modifying and child custody and visitation agreements
• Serving as a mediator or arbitrator in child custody cases

Please contact my St. Paul law office to discuss your child custody situation and the services you may need to reach a resolution.

Parenting Consultant

Binding Arbitration in Child Custody Cases: The term "parenting consultant" describes a neutral person hired to make a binding recommendation when parents cannot resolve a dispute over custody or parenting time. I have served as a parenting consultant in a number of family court matters.

Every parenting consultant case is unique. It depends upon the needs of the children and parents. Bringing in a parenting consultant does mean that the parents are temporarily giving up some part of their parental authority to a third party to make decisions on behalf of their children.

I usually try to mediate child custody cases before taking this arbitration role. If mediation does not work and we move forward with the parenting consultation, I give each parent the opportunity to provide information to inform my decision in the matter. I then make a written decision.

Parenting Time Expediter

Resolving Problems with Existing Orders: A parenting time expediter is a neutral person who uses the mediation-arbitration process to resolve visitation disputes after a child custody order has been entered. The expeditor's job is to help the parties figure out a solution on their own. If the parties cannot agree, the expediter will make the decision for them. The expediter can be selected by the parties or appointed by the court

When I act as an expediter, I work with the child custody and visitation order as it was drafted. I am limited to enforcing the order, interpreting or clarifying the order, and addressing circumstances that weren't addressed in the original order. I prefer to have parents make decisions for their children rather than have me do so for them. I will make a decision only as a last resort.

Contact My Office

Please contact me online or call 651-222-2587 to schedule a consultation. I will help you find a cost-effective resolution that is in the best interest of your children and your family.