Custody
What goes in a parenting plan
The parts of a plan a judge can sign, and the ones parents forget until the first holiday.
Calla Ndiaye6 min read
Family law clinic · Camden, New Jersey
A guide for every step.
A lawyer for the hard ones.
Lifeboat is a sliding-scale family law clinic for spouses and parents in Camden County. Custody, support, divorce and protective orders, explained in plain steps and backed by three staff attorneys.
- Sliding-scale feesset by household income
- Meet by videoor on Haddon Avenue
- A written planafter your first meeting
- Quick exitat the top of every page
Fees follow a sliding scale by household income, in writing before any work starts. Court filing fees are separate. The clinic can’t take every case.
Guides
Short guides for the weeks before a hearing
Each guide is written by one of our attorneys. It says what to bring, what to expect and what to ask.
CourtYour first hearing, step by step
What to bring, where to stand and what the judge is usually deciding at a first hearing.
Bartholomew Fenwick5 min read
ProcessHow a case runs, from first call to final order
Six steps, with what you do at each one and what the clinic does beside you.
Eloise Kessler5 min read
Cases we take
Pick the problem you are in
Every case page is a guide first and a way to book second.
Custody and parenting time
Where the children sleep, who decides, and how to write the schedule down so it holds.
Read the guideChild support
What goes into the number, what to bring to the hearing, and how to ask for a change.
Read the guideDivorce
The papers in order, the waiting periods, and what to settle before a judge has to.
Read the guide
Watch
Your first hearing, in six minutes
A staff attorney walks through the courtroom: where you sit, when you speak and what the judge usually decides on day one.
Prefer to read? The written guide has the same steps and a checklist you can print and bring.
Your first family court hearing, explained
Six minutes, with captions.
Before you call
The questions we hear first
Do I qualify for the sliding scale?
Fees are set by household income and by how many people live in your household. At the screening we ask for a recent pay stub or a benefits letter. If your income is above the top band, we say so and suggest other places to look.
What if I can’t pay anything right now?
The lowest band has no hourly fee. You may still owe court filing fees; the court can waive them, and we help with the form.
Will you take my case if the other side has a lawyer?
Often, yes. We decide by the facts, our caseload and whether we can do the work well, not by who is on the other side.
Do I have to come to Camden?
No. Meetings can be by video or phone, and we can send guides and forms by email or text.
Is a screening a commitment?
No. A screening is a short call to check for conflicts and fit. Nothing is filed and you owe nothing.
What if I am not safe at home?
Use the quick exit at the top of any page, and tell us the safest number and time to reach you. Protective orders are first in our queue.
Ready to talk to a person?
A screening takes about twenty minutes by phone or video. We check for conflicts, explain your fee band and tell you whether the clinic can take your case.
A screening isn’t legal advice and doesn’t make you a client.