To get custody of a child, you'll need to file paperwork with the court. Because custody cases are nuanced and the well-being of children is at stake, we highly recommend working with an experienced lawyer who will keep your best interests and those of your children in mind.

This depends on whether or not the children's parents were married when the child was born. If the parents were unmarried when the child was born, in most states, primary custody is automatically awarded to the mother. If you were married when the child was born, you and your spouse will automatically share joint legal and physical custody over your child.

You'll need to file a complaint for custody. Before you do this, you need to determine whether your case will be heard in the domestic relations court or the juvenile court. This varies case-by-case, and we always recommend working with a lawyer to figure out what the best course of action is for your case.

No two custody cases are the same, so it's difficult to determine an average cost. At Marble Law, you'll work with an experienced team that will take your case one step at a time. Together, we'll create a strategy you feel confident about. At Marble Law, you only hire us for the services you need—as you need them. Each service has a clear price, so you always know what's included and what it costs in advance.

If one parent violates the custody agreement, the other parent may seek enforcement of the agreement through the court. In extreme cases, a violation of the agreement may result in a modification of the custody arrangement.

Yes. Courts don't favor one parent over the other based on gender. Decisions are based on each parent's involvement, ability to care for the child, and what arrangement supports the child's best interests. Fathers who are actively involved can and do receive custody.

Attorneys who work with Marble draw on patterns from 130,000+ family law matters to help identify strategies, anticipate challenges, and build an approach suited to your situation — rather than starting from scratch with each case.

It depends on how contested your case is and what services you need. With Marble, you pay a fixed price per service instead of an hourly rate, so there's no retainer to run out and no surprise bill for calls, texts, or emails along the way.

Marble's client portal gives you a running view of your case — documents, next steps, and updates — so you can check in on your own schedule instead of waiting on a callback.

Marble matches you with an attorney based on your case type, state, and specific situation — not just whoever's available. That match is backed by the Attorney Match Guarantee.* (*The Attorney Match Guarantee applies to Marble's matching process only and is not a guarantee of legal outcome.)

Emergency custody may be available when a child's immediate safety is at risk—for example, in situations involving abuse, neglect, or abandonment. It usually requires filing an emergency motion with the court, which can result in a temporary order that lasts until a full hearing is scheduled. Because these situations move quickly, legal support can help make sure the right paperwork gets filed without delay.