Michigan, US, 20th June 2024, ZEX PR WIRE<\/a>,<\/strong> Judge Paul Burmaster, a respected figure in the Family Law division of the 10th Judicial District, Johnson County, Kansas District Court, provides insight into judges\u2019 careful and comprehensive process to determine child custody, residency and parenting plans. Judge Burmaster, the second most senior judge in the seven-judge Family Law department, brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to the welfare of children in divorce and parentage cases.<\/span><\/p>\n

Serving in a court that includes 22 District Judges and 4 Magistrate Judges, Judge Burmaster manages a demanding workload of approximately 2,000 assigned cases and 400 scheduled hearings, addressing issues such as divorces, parentage disputes, and protection orders. His extensive experience in criminal and civil matters and his mediation skills make him a pivotal figure in ensuring fair and just outcomes in family law cases.<\/span><\/p>\n

Judge Burmaster explains that \u201ccustody\u201d as used in Kansas can be confusing for parents.\u00a0 \u201cCustody\u201d in Kansas does not refer to the residence of the child, but rather it refers to the responsibility to make decisions regarding the \u201chealth, safety, and welfare\u201d of the child.\u00a0 \u201cJoint\u201d custody, where parents share in these decisions, is preferred.\u00a0 However, in some cases \u201cSole\u201d custody, where one parent makes the decisions, is necessary.\u00a0 \u201cOur primary focus is always the child\u2019s best interest,\u201d says Judge Burmaster. \u201cWe look at various aspects including each parent\u2019s role and involvement with the child, the age of the child, the desires of a child of sufficient age, and the interaction of the parents, including any history of domestic violence.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The analysis of parenting plans and residency of the child involves multiple elements found in the Kansas statutes, Judge Paul Burmaster says.\u00a0 He says this list includes \u201cthe emotional and physical needs of the child, the interaction of the child with parents and other people in the child\u2019s orbit, the ability of the parents to communicate and cooperate with each other, evidence of domestic abuse, the location of the child\u2019s school, and more.\u201d Judges, he adds, take great care to examine all of these elements, although depending on the facts of the case, some of the elements may be more relevant that others.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe relationship history is crucial,\u201d Judge Burmaster notes. \u201cWe evaluate how each parent has been involved in the child\u2019s life, their roles, and the nature of their interactions. Stability and continuity are vital for the child\u2019s sense of security, but we also recognize that as parents\u2019 lives change, their roles change and so may their involvement.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Another significant factor is the parents\u2019 willingness to collaborate and maintain a cooperative co-parenting relationship. Judges look for evidence that parents can put aside their differences and work together to support their child\u2019s overall well-being. \u201cCooperation between parents can greatly impact the child\u2019s adjustment and emotional health,\u201d Judge Burmaster emphasizes. \u201cWe encourage parents to demonstrate a commitment to co-parenting effectively.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The court, Judge Burmaster adds, also takes into account any history of abuse from either parent. Ensuring the child\u2019s safety is paramount, and any evidence of past abuse or neglect is thoroughly examined. Additionally, the living conditions provided by each parent may be evaluated to ensure they offer a stable and safe environment for the child.<\/span><\/p>\n

Judge Burmaster also noted that courts usually consider how far apart parents live from each other. In cases where parents live close to each other, equal parenting time is more likely a possibility. However, when parents live far apart, Judge Burmaster said, equal time is likely not possible as the child will likely spend more time in the residence close to their school and activities. The hope, he says, is to ensure that the child\u2019s life is in no way destabilized more than the damage already caused by the divorce process itself.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Judge Burmaster\u2019s journey to the bench began with a distinguished career in private practice, handling various cases, including criminal, civil, and juvenile matters. With extensive trial experience, he has handled over 40 jury trials and countless bench trials. His career also includes serving as an Assistant District Attorney in Wyandotte County and Assistant City Prosecutor in Wichita and Kansas City, Missouri.<\/span><\/p>\n

Beyond his legal work, Judge Burmaster is committed to his community through various charitable endeavors, including his past membership on the Community Leadership Development Council for the Kansas Children\u2019s Service League.<\/span><\/p>\n

Judge Burmaster\u2019s dedication to justice and comprehensive approach to parenting time decisions reflect his deep commitment to serving the best interests of children and families in Johnson County.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\nThe Post Judge Paul Burmaster Explains the Parenting Plan and Custody Decision-Making Process in Family Court\t<\/a> first appeared on ZEX PR Wire<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Michigan, US, 20th June 2024, ZEX PR WIRE, Judge Paul Burmaster, a respected figure in the Family Law division of the 10th Judicial District, Johnson County, Kansas District Court, provides insight into judges\u2019 careful and comprehensive process to determine child custody, residency and parenting plans. Judge Burmaster, the second most senior judge in the seven-judge […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-9839","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/seoulchronicle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9839"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/seoulchronicle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/seoulchronicle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seoulchronicle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seoulchronicle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9839"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/seoulchronicle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9839\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/seoulchronicle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9839"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seoulchronicle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9839"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seoulchronicle.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9839"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}