Child Access, Visitation & Custody

Child Custody Lawyer

Serving Clients in West Seneca, Buffalo, NY
& the Surrounding WNY Areas

A Custody Order gives responsibility for the child’s care and how the child is brought up to one or both of the child’s parents or to someone else. An Access Order provides for a division of time in which each of the parents, or someone else, spends with the child. 

Courts in New York State can make orders related to custody and access only until the child turns 18, and the court bases custody and access decisions on what is best for the child, often referred to as the "best interest of the child.” If there is no Court Order, then both parents have equal rights to the child with respect to custody and access. 

Custody relates to the ability to make important decisions about a child’s care such as medical care or religious upbringing. In situations where there is joint custody, the parents make major decisions about the child together. It does not matter which parent the child lives with more; it simply requires both parents to agree on major decisions together. 

In circumstances in which one party has sole custody, the sole custodial parent has the right to make all major decisions for the child without input or decision-making power of the other parent. 

Access, sometimes referred to as visitation, relates to when each parent, or someone else, is providing for the physical care and supervision of the child. In many cases, the parent who has the child more than the other is often designated as the primary residential custodial parent, but that term does not mean the primary residential parent has the right to make major decisions on their own, but rather that they are able to make the day-to-day decisions for the child's benefit as they often have the child more than the other parent.

Benefits of Hiring Child Custody Lawyers in Buffalo, NY

  • Understands Custody Laws: Child custody lawyers know the ins and outs of child custody law because it is their specialized area of practice. Child custody lawyers can inform you on the law, types of custody, how the case will go, and more.
  • Focused on the Details: When you are going through a divorce and child custody case, you are already stressed enough as it is. Hiring a professional child custody lawyer will ensure that even the smallest details are not overlooked.
  • Your Child's Best Interest: When you hire a professional child custody lawyer in Buffalo, they will work diligently with you to ensure that your side of the story is heard and taken seriously. Our child support lawyers have your child's best interest at heart, and we want to make sure they can live comfortably moving forward.
  • Speedy Resolution: Someone who is not skilled at dealing with the legal complexities involved in a child custody case will encounter many issues that will result in a delay of the case. A child custody lawyer will not only know everything about child custody law, but they will ensure the case goes smoothly and quickly.

Family Law Attorney Here To Guide You

Courts can fashion any number of access schedules, and they are based upon a parent's availability, often as a result of a parent's work schedule, and based upon a number of other factors including but not limited to children's activities, children's school schedules, the distance the parents live from one another, etc. 

Courts have recently determined that it is in the best interests of the child to have a significant relationship with both parents, and as a result, often begins its review of custody and access issues believing that each parent should have an equal amount of time with the child or children.

When you hire a family law attorney, you can be better represented in child custody cases and separation agreements. When it comes to your family, you will want to have a professional in your corner.
child support lawyer buffalo, ny
Handling Child Support, Child Custody & Visitation Cases with Compassion Since 2006.

Whether you are looking to take your child out of an unhealthy environment, or you’d like to share custody with the other parent, at the Law Offices of Steven H. Grocott, we will handle the unique details of your paternity rights case with a strict attention to detail. Our caring and professional parental rights lawyer will help you to reach a fair solution that is most beneficial for your children, and everyone involved. On top of child custody cases, we also handle matters regarding child support, visitation agreements, distributive awards, and more.


The sooner we can get started on your case, the better the chances of a strong outcome, so we encourage you to contact our office today to schedule an initial consultation with our experienced child custody lawyer. We proudly serve individuals, couples, and parents all throughout West Seneca, Hamburg, Orchard Park, Lackawanna, Cheektowaga, Blasdell, Buffalo, Amherst, Tonawanda, Lancaster, Williamsville, Depew, North Tonawanda, Warsaw, Attica, NY, and the surrounding WNY communities.


Contact our child custody lawyer today to set up a consultation.