Protecting Your Parental Rights Starts With the Right Guidance
When your relationship with your child is at stake, you need more than paperwork. You need a child custody attorney who will advocate for your family. Roach & Bishop Law provides child custody representation for parents throughout the Tri-Cities and surrounding Washington communities, including Pasco, Kennewick, Richland, West Richland, and Benton and Franklin County.
With more than 60 years of history and nearly 100 years of combined legal experience among our local attorneys, our child custody attorneys help parents navigate custody disputes, parenting plan negotiations, and related family law matters with clarity, compassion, and diligent preparation.
What a Child Custody Case May Need to Address
Child custody is rarely a single issue. A custody case may require decisions about where your child will primarily live, how parenting time will be divided between households, and who will make important decisions about your child’s education, medical care, and upbringing. These matters can arise during a divorce or separation, when an existing parenting arrangement is no longer working, or when a parent needs to establish legal rights for the first time.
Washington child custody attorneys can help you understand your options, prepare required documents, negotiate parenting arrangements with the other parent, and advocate for your position in court when an agreement cannot be reached. The legal process involves specific procedural requirements, and missing a step can affect how your case is considered. Having an attorney guide you through that process can make a meaningful difference.
Custody and child support are related but separate legal matters. A change in parenting time does not automatically modify an existing support order. An attorney can help you understand how these issues interact in your specific situation.
What You Gain Working With
Roach & Bishop Law
Choosing a child custody attorney is one of the most important decisions you will make during this process. At Roach & Bishop Law, we build a personalized strategy around your specific goals, your child’s needs, and the realities of your situation. Because custody disputes often connect to divorce, child support, paternity, and modifications to existing orders, our full-service family law team handles all of it under one roof.
We communicate clearly, explain legal terminology in plain language, and keep you informed at every stage. Whether your case calls for negotiation, mediation, or courtroom litigation, we pursue the path that best serves your family. You will receive straightforward advice, realistic expectations, and consistent support from attorneys who take your situation seriously. Consultation requests are available in both English and Spanish.
Why Trust Roach & Bishop Law With Your Custody Case
Roach & Bishop Law has been serving families in the Tri-Cities for more than 60 years. Our attorneys are local. We know the courts, the procedures, and the community we serve. That local knowledge informs how we approach every case.
We bring nearly 100 years of combined legal experience to family law matters, and we apply that experience with integrity and a genuine commitment to each client. We do not treat custody cases as routine. We understand that the outcome affects your child’s daily life and your relationship with them for years to come.
Our West Pasco office serves families throughout Pasco, Kennewick, Richland, West Richland, and surrounding Benton and Franklin County communities. When you work with Roach & Bishop Law, you have a team that is prepared to advocate for you and your child at every stage of the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between legal custody and physical custody?
Physical custody generally refers to where a child lives and how parenting time is divided between households. Legal custody refers to who has the authority to make important decisions about a child's upbringing, including education and medical care. Washington courts may award these responsibilities jointly or to one parent, depending on the circumstances of the case.
How does a Washington court decide custody arrangements?
Washington courts evaluate custody and parenting arrangements based on the best interests of the child. Factors considered may include each parent's involvement in the child's life, the child's need for stability, and other circumstances relevant to the family's situation. An attorney can help you understand how these factors may apply to your case.
Can an existing custody or parenting plan order be changed?
Yes, under certain circumstances. Custody, parenting plan, and support orders may be modified when a substantial change in circumstances occurs. Examples that may support a modification request include a parent relocating, a significant change in income, job loss, or a change in the child's needs. An attorney can evaluate whether your situation may qualify and help you pursue a legally enforceable modification through the court.
What happens if one parent wants to relocate with the child?
Relocation can significantly affect an existing parenting plan, including parenting time, school arrangements, transportation, and each parent's ability to maintain a relationship with the child. Roach & Bishop Law represents both parents who are seeking to relocate and parents who want to object to a proposed move. The legal requirements involved in relocation matters are specific, and an attorney can help you understand your rights and options.
How does custody affect child support?
Custody arrangements and child support are connected but legally separate. A change in parenting time may affect financial responsibilities, but an existing support order does not change automatically. Any modification to a support order needs to go through the appropriate legal process. Circumstances that may support a request for modification include a significant decrease in income, a change in employment, increased qualifying expenses such as healthcare or childcare, or a change in the custody arrangement itself.
Do I need an attorney for a custody case?
You are not required to have an attorney, but custody proceedings involve specific forms, documents, and procedural requirements. Missing a step can affect how your case is considered. An attorney can help ensure your rights are protected, your documents are properly prepared, and your position is clearly presented, whether through negotiation or in court.
Ready to Discuss Your Custody Situation? Contact Roach & Bishop Law.
Your child’s well-being and your relationship with them are worth protecting. Roach & Bishop Law is here to help you understand your rights, evaluate your options, and advocate for your family with the diligence and care your situation deserves.
Call us at 509-547-7587 or reach out through our website to request a consultation. We serve families throughout the Tri-Cities and surrounding Washington communities. Consultation requests are available in both English and Spanish.
