It is hard to determine when the need for an attorney for child custody arises. However, if a divorcing couple cannot work out a reasonable agreement, that is the time to look for a good child custody lawyer. The purpose of a child custody hearing is to figure out what living situation would best serve the mental, physical, and emotional needs of the child. Often, both parents want full legal and physical custody because they both love their child and want what they feel is best for him. Unfortunately, divorces can become bitter and the child’s needs submerged beneath the anger parents feel toward each other. This is when attorneys who specialize in child custody issues come into play.