At Alaska Law Group, we pride ourselves on finding a child custody solution for every unique family situation. Through parental experience, and years of practice, we are fully aware that a cookie cutter parenting plan simply does not fit all families’ needs. Our experienced child custody attorneys keep on top of current research regarding what is best for children.

In Alaska, the child custody and visitation agreement is called a parenting plan. Many parents come up with a parenting plan and never give it another thought. Others follow this child custody and visitation agreement to the letter until the child goes to college. However, each divorced/separated family must have a specific plan upon which they can rely if disagreements arise.

As your lawyers, we will counsel you to approach parenting plans carefully. If you and your child’s other parent disagree in the future, the court will order you to follow the plan as written. Parenting plans cannot be modified without court approval, which is often difficult. We will take the time necessary to explore all the possibilities and design the best plan for you and your children, minimizing the possibility of returning to court for expensive, unnecessary modification.

No two parenting plans are alike. A parenting plan for a slope worker or a firefighter working different shifts would be different from a parenting plan for an entrepreneur parent working from home or a professional working a traditional work week. We understand that parenting plans are as complicated as people’s lives. We are continually amazed at the creative ways families design their plans to accommodate each parents’ strengths and weaknesses and address their children’s needs.

Only you know what works best for your children and your own unique family situation. Carl and his team will help you craft and negotiate a completely customized plan that meets your family’s specific needs.

In Alaska, the parenting plan requires the designation of shared custody or a primary parent. The other parent is typically given joint decision making rights and substantial residential time with the children. The amount of time and the exact schedule are the subject of negotiation, or if the parties are unable to agree, it will be decided by a judge.

If child custody is contested, a custody investigator is often appointed. This person is typically a social work or counseling professional charged with making recommendations to the court about the children’s residential schedule and who should be primary custodial parent. The court relies heavily on the custody investigator so it’s important for you and your lawyer to choose one who will spend time with both parents and the children – someone you believe will advocate for the best interest of the whole family.

Child custody issues can be traumatic. The prospect of losing contact with your children is frightening. Carl understands this. We have litigated cases of parents facing accusations of mental illness, domestic violence, spousal abuse, child abuse, and abandonment. We are confident of our skills to represent you and safeguard your interests.

Carl has represented mothers and fathers who have worked hard to support their families, only to discover that their career has put them at a disadvantage in a child custody dispute. Many working mothers are stunned to find out that a stay-at-home husband has a leg up in a custody child fight, since the stay-at-home parent is viewed by the court as the primary caregiver.

The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can protect your parenting plan rights and put you in a position to help you get the child custody arrangement that is best for you and your child. In our experience, high-conflict child custody cases occur more frequently when one or both parents are unwilling or unable to compromise. Obviously, neither you nor our attorneys have any control over how your spouse will decide to approach child custody issues. However, our attorneys can promise that we will do our absolute best to address your case and try to curb the escalation of emotions as much as possible.

The good news in contested child custody situations is that our attorneys have helped many, many clients through this process. Most parents have become decidedly stronger people as a result. Carl Cook has extensive experience in custody cases. If you’d like to schedule a consultation regarding child custody or visitation, please call our office at (907 929-0888.

Here at Alaska Law Group we are well aware that divorce is a time of crisis for most people. In fact, divorce can negatively affect your entire life, i.e. children, friends, property and finances. We also understand. having assisted hundreds of families through this transition, that divorce can ultimately be a chance for a fresh start. One of the best things about being a divorce lawyer is assisting people out of crisis helping them move forward with their lives. We are honored to be a part of this life-changing experience.

We recognize that family disputes and divorce do not discriminate. People from all walks of life may find themselves in the middle of a divorce or separation. We are lucky to have experience representing individuals from varied backgrounds. Our clients include teachers, small business owners, hourly workers, and medical professionals, in addition to complex property and high-net-worth individuals. We handle high, medium and low asset cases with the same attention to detail and commitment to a fair outcome for every client.

In Alaska, all property generated by the two parties during the years they were a couple is generally considered marital property and is up for division. This includes retirement account benefits. The law in Alaska starts with an assumption that marital property will be split 50/50.

However, from there the court will consider a variety of factors that could lead to different percentages. For example, when one party is the higher wage earner, the courts may attempt to put the parties in a closer economic position after the divorce through property division and spousal maintenance.

If you are the lower-earning spouse, your lawyer may work with financial professionals to help you select which marital assets will be better for you given the tax consequences, the future growth possibilities of that asset, and the fact that you may have less in retirement. Property division can also be different in high asset cases than it is in mid to low asset cases and sometimes a client will need forensic accounting specifically tailored to divorce issues to aid in their case. Our attorneys are experienced in property division matters and often work with financial analysts in an effort to provide the best financial position for our clients.

Alaska Law Group represents real people accused of any and all crimes. Real people are most often accused of crimes like speeding, DUI, domestic violence, possession, and other crimes that are referred to as “minor” crimes. At Alaska Law Group, we understand that when you are accused of any crime, it is not minor to you.

Likewise, we have the experience and understanding of the Alaska Criminal Defense system to represent those accused of crimes that are not considered minor by anyone. We have successfully represented individuals accused of Murder, Robbery, and Assault as well as allegations of major theft and sex crimes.

Regardless of the crime, we respect every person we represent. We recognize you as a real person with family, friends, a job and a life. We understand the impact any allegation has on your life, and we work accordingly for you.

Always remember, the government is not your friend. Don’t trust them to treat you fairly or deal with you as a real person.

Our Areas Of Focus:

Child Custody

Divorce Issues

Determining Marital (Joint) Property

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Criminal Law

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