Syracuse Paternity, Child Custody & Visitation Lawyer

Central New York State family law firm

Establishing child custody and visitation arrangements can be a very heated and emotional part of any divorce.  You need the skilled support of an experienced attorney to achieve a good result.  Attorney Bombardo has helped many clients work through their family law issues.  He represents clients throughout Central New York, including Onondaga, Cayuga, Oswego and Madison counties.

Helping to sort through options in  paternity cases

Attorney Richard Bombardo has many years of experience dealing with paternity cases. He helps clients navigate the court system to achieve the desired result in paternity cases.  It is important for both mothers and fathers to have certainty on the issue of paternity from the outset. The only way to establish paternity with certainty is through DNA testing.

Mothers seeking to establish paternity need to demonstrate credibility with the Court. It is therefore critical to be correct when asserting paternity. They also need clarity on the potential outcomes of their paternity suit. When paternity is established, the father has both obligations and rights to a child.

• The obligation for child support
• The right to visitation and custody

Those women who do not want the father to be an ongoing part of their child's life need to consider whether establishing paternity is truly what they want.

Fathers also need to be certain about the paternity obligation they are assuming. They are taking on a support obligation for many years to come, so it is essential to know that obligation is warranted. It is therefore critical to have DNA testing results. Although it occasionally happens, it is rare to that you will be allowed to challenge paternity years down the road. You will always be allowed to challenge it at the beginning. 

Attorney Bombardo can help you sort through your options whether you are a mother seeking to establish paternity or a father challenging paternity or seeking custody.

Advising on child custody arrangements

The court decides which parent will have custody of children based on the "best interests of the children."  In New York State there is no presumption that the mother should get sole custody.  Either parent or both can be granted custody, and many factors are considered by the court in making this determination. There are two types of child custody: physical custody—also known as residential custody—and legal custody.  

In most cases, legal custody is joint.  But depending on the facts and circumstances of a case, legal custody may also be restricted to only one of the parents. The court decides the issue of custody and visitation based on many factors.  For example, if the parents cannot get along civilly, then joint custody cannot be granted even when the parents agree to such an arrangement. It is in situations in which the parties are "warring" and cannot agree that skilled legal guidance plays a critical role in determining outcomes.  

Counseling on child visitation

Where one parent is granted sole physical custody, the non-custodial parent is permitted to seek an order of visitation so as to maintain "frequent and meaningful" contact with the child or children.  Many visitation schedules consist of visits every second weekend and every second holiday.  If the parents live near each other, one night of visitation in the middle of the week may also be granted to the non-custodial parent.  The court usually grants the non-custodial parent overnight visitation unless the parent does not have a safe place for the child to stay.  

If the custodial parent refuses to permit court-ordered visitation, custody could be changed.  Attorney Bombardo can help you apply to the court for help with custody and visitation issues.

Providing skilled legal counsel and attentive client service

Contact the Law Office of Richard Bombardo, PC at 315-488-5544 for a free consultation to learn more about child custody, visitation or paternity.  In-office and telephone consultations are available Monday through Friday during normal business hours and by appointment after hours and weekends.  You can also contact the firm online by submitting the intake form on this website.  Flexible payment options are available for clients who meet certain criteria.