Custody & Support

Hawaii Child Custody and Visitation Lawyer

The best interest of the child is the judicial standard governing child custody, visitation, and support issues. The court focuses on how children are affected by a contentious divorce, as does the staff at the Law Offices of Scot Stuart Brower in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Child support guidelines have a set formula that is applied pursuant to statute. The income of both parties is entered and an amount is generated. Even if one spouse agrees to take less, the amount prescribed by the formula cannot be varied and must be paid to the spouse. The court views it as money for the children and not something that one spouse can modify. At the Law Offices of Scot Stuart Brower, we have extensive experience with the support guidelines and in determining the approximate amounts likely to be applied toward payment and receipt.

To modify a sole or joint custody or support order, you need to prove a material change in circumstances. That could be a new marriage or a move to the mainland United States or another country. Again, the best interests of the child are deemed paramount, especially in a move of great distance. The relationship between child and parent could be damaged and the court will closely consider that consequence.

Attorney Scot Stuart Brower serves as an appointed special master for divorce cases throughout Honolulu. In that role, he has often overseen mediation between two couples wishing to settle their divorce out of the courtroom. A couple settling child custody, visitation, and support issues in a mediation setting has more control over the outcome of important matters. Leaving the decision in the hands of a judge can result in an unexpected and unsatisfactory outcome.

For more information or to schedule a free consultation regarding child custody and asserting your parental rights, please contact us.