Beth A. Roesler
Sioux Falls Managing Partner
Protecting the Best Interests of You and Your Child
Having consistent and meaningful contact with your child is essential for maintaining a strong relationship and playing an active role in their upbringing. When parents are no longer together, a child custody order establishes how major decisions will be made and how time will be shared, always with the child’s best interests at heart.
Our child custody attorneys help clients through these sensitive, often emotional cases. We take the time to understand your goals, explain your legal options, and build a strategy that protects your parental rights and supports your child’s stability and well-being. Our team approach means multiple attorneys may collaborate to identify the best path forward for your unique family situation.
Custody Establishment
We help parents initiate and formalize custody arrangements that prioritize their child’s emotional and physical well-being. Courts base custody decisions on the child’s best interests, which may include factors such as:
- Each parent’s relationship with the child
- The child’s health, welfare, and social development
- The child’s own wishes (depending on age and maturity)
- Any evidence of abuse, neglect, or unsafe conditions
Parenting Plan Development
Our attorneys craft detailed parenting plans addressing custody, visitation, exchanges, and decision-making responsibilities. Parenting plans must address key details such as parenting time schedules, exchange logistics, decision-making authority, and dispute resolution procedures.
Parents are encouraged to develop these plans collaboratively to minimize conflict and foster cooperation.
Child Visitation and Parenting Time Modification
When a parent needs to make changes to their existing parenting plan for regular parenting time and holidays, we can help showing a material change of circumstances has occurred.
Child Custody Modifications
We assist clients in seeking or opposing changes to existing custody orders when circumstances evolve — life doesn’t always stay the same, and custody arrangements don’t either. If there has been a significant change in circumstances like relocation, health issues, or safety concerns, we can help your custody orders better reflect the current situation.
Enforcement of Custody Orders
If a custody or visitation order is not being followed, our firm helps parents pursue enforcement through court action or mediation.
Meet Our Team
Contact
Connect with us today to speak with our child custody attorneys near you.
Child Custody FAQ
Who can file for custody?
While parents are the primary parties in most custody matters, others may be eligible to seek custody depending on circumstances, including:
- Parents – Biological or adoptive parents typically initiate custody proceedings during separation or divorce.
- Legal Guardians – May request custody if parents cannot fulfill their responsibilities.
- Relatives – Grandparents, aunts, uncles, or other family members may file under certain conditions if it’s in the child’s best interest.
- Third Parties – Individuals with a close, established relationship with the child may petition in limited cases.
Do I have to go through mediation before going to court?
In many cases, yes. Mediation may be required before modifying an existing parenting plan to encourage cooperative solutions outside the courtroom. Speak with one of our attorneys to get advice on your circumstances and state laws.
What if we can’t agree in mediation?
If mediation doesn’t result in an agreement, the court will review the issues and determine custody and parenting time based on the child’s best interests.
Related Services
Child Support
We help parents establish, modify, and enforce child support orders to protect their children’s well-being and ensure financial fairness.
Premarital Agreements
Protect your assets, clarify financial expectations, and safeguard your future with a customized prenuptial agreement built for you.
Divorce
Compassionate and experienced representation for every stage of divorce, from mediation to contested litigation.