Child Custody & Visitation

One’s children are the most important thing in life. We have a responsibility to protect their interests from the moment they are born. This obligation extends to the good times as well as the bad. There are, however, times when the other parent may not necessarily be acting in the best interests of the child. In such a situation you need the services of attorneys who will work to protect your kids from harm’s way. Our Orange County child custody lawyers handle such matters in Anaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine, and throughout the rest of the area. Contact our Orange County office today to schedule an initial consultation.

Orange County attorneys handling child custody cases on behalf of parents

California is a state which presumes that parents should share joint custody of children. This means that the Court will begin each case with the belief that the child should equally spend time with both the mother and the father. If a parent wishes for custody to be anything other than joint then they must demonstrate to the Court that one parent having primary or sole custody is in the best interest of the child. When determining what is in the child’s best interest the Court will consider factors such as:

• The nature of the relationship between the child and each parent
• The need to keep the child united with any siblings
• The ability of each parent to meet the child’s needs
• The mental and physical health of each parent
• The extent to which one parent is causing conflict with the other
• Whether there is a history of domestic violence between the parties
• The wishes of the child, assuming that the child is of sufficient age to make an intelligent decision (FC 3080)

When ruling on child custody the Court will also rule on issues such as visitation and child support.

Child custody cases are either between two parents who were never married or are sometimes part of a contested divorce. After the initial Petition is filed then a hearing will be held relatively early in the case. The purpose of this hearing is to put a temporary order in place regarding custody, visitation, and support while the matter is proceeding. Each parent will then have the opportunity to gather evidence to be used in support of arguments as to why they should have primary custody. The matter will conclude at a trial at which the Judge, and not a jury, will make a final ruling on all issues. Having a lawyer to assist you with this process can make a difference in the outcome.

Our child custody lawyers in Orange County aggressively handle such matters throughout the area. We recognize that time is of the essence and will quickly file your Petition and request for temporary orders. Once a preliminary arrangement has been established we will use discovery, the process by which information is obtained from the other side, to gather proof of why you should have the custody arrangement you are requesting. This proof may include the other parent’s medical history, financial information, telephone records, email correspondence, criminal records, and the child’s school records. We will present your case at trial and ensure that your rights are protected throughout the process. Our office understands that you are facing a serious situation – we will give it the attention it deserves. Contact us today.

Our attorneys service all of Orange County, including Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Dana Point, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Irvine, La Habra, Ladera Ranch, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Orange, Placentia, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Tustin, Westminster, and Yorba Linda.

Legal vs. Physical Custody in California

Legal custody is when one or both parents are awarded the right and responsibility to make important life decisions for the child or children. The decisions include but are not limited to educational, medical, and religious matters.

Physical custody refers to which parent (either one or both) the child or children will physically live with.

Matters involving one’s children are stressful. You do not need the added aggravation of having counsel who does not make themselves available to answer your questions. Our Orange County lawyers promptly return phone calls, quickly respond to emails, copy clients on correspondence, and take steps to ensure that you know what to expect as your matter moves forward. We pride ourselves on providing a level of service not common to Orange County attorneys. This is our promise to each of our clients.

We also handle other matters related to child custody such as modifying an existing custody order, moving children outside of California, and paternity.