Experienced Child Custody / Child Visitation Dispute Attorney
Law Firm Specializing in Child Custody and Visitation Actions Filed in the Inland Empire of Southern California
When parents decide to separate or get a divorce their children are necessarily impacted in a variety of ways. Provided they are safe and cared for in an appropriate manner, children have the right to enjoy time with both of their parents even when the parents are no longer together. When parents are unable to agree on the division of their child’s time, it may be necessary to involve the courts in the arrangement of child custody. When determining what custody arrangement is in the best interest of a child, a judge may consider many different factors (Cal Fam. Code § 3040 – § 3049). Some of those factors include:
- The health, safety, and welfare of the child (Cal Fam. Code § 3011(a)(1)).
- The desires of the child (beginning at age 14) (Cal Fam. Code § 3042).
- The stability of each parent
- Any history of domestic violence or abuse by either parent (Cal Fam. Code § 3020(a), Cal Fam. Code § 3011(a)(2)(A)).& Cal Fam. Code § 3044).
- Habitual illegal use of controlled substances and abuse of alcohol or prescription drugs by either parent (Cal Fam. Code § 3011(a)(4)).
- Each parent’s ability to care for the child
- The nature and amount of contact the child currently has with each parent (Cal Fam. Code § 3011(a)(3)).
The family court may make any orders regarding the custody of a child, during the child’s minority, that seems necessary or proper (Cal Fam. Code § 3022).
California Custody Law gives the court a large degree of discretion, and an experienced child custody attorney can help navigate the factors the court may consider in determining child custody in the state of California.
Factors the family court does not consider include:
- The sex, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation of a parent (Cal Fam. Code § 3040(c)). Cal Fam. Code § 3020(d).& Cal Fam. Code § 3011(d)).
Family Code Section 3021 gives the family court the authority to make child custody determinations in the following matters:
- Divorce
- Nullity of Marriage
- Legal Separation
- Domestic Violence Prevention Act Proceedings
- Paternity
- Dissolution of Domestic Partnership
Legal Custody:
Legal custody falls into two categories:
- Joint, where both parents equally share the right and responsibility to make decisions about the welfare, health, and education of a child (Cal Fam. Code § 3003).
- Sole, where only one parent has the right and responsibility to make decisions about the welfare, health, and education of a child (Cal Fam. Code § 3006).
A parent with legal custody of a child makes the decisions and choices about their child’s:
- School and/or child care
- Religious activities
- Psychiatric, psychological, and other mental health counseling or therapy needs
- Doctors, dentists, orthodontists, and other health professionals
- Extracurricular activities
- Residence (where the child will live)
Those parents who share joint legal custody of their child both have the right to make decisions about the categories above, but they do not have to agree on every decision. Either parent can make a decision alone, but to avoid unnecessary problems that will land them back in court, both parents need to communicate with each other in making decisions together. This communication is called co-parenting and is a necessary tool for parents raising a child together, after separation. For help honing this skill, a co-parenting therapist can assist parents in need.
Physical Custody:
Like legal custody, physical custody falls into two categories:
- Joint, where the child lives with both parents (Cal Fam. Code § 3004).
- Sole, where the child lives with one parent most of the time and visits the other parent (Cal Fam. Code § 3007).
Despite how the term may sound, joint physical custody doesn’t always mean that the child spends exactly half the time with each parent. Oftentimes, children spend more time with one parent than the other because it is too hard on the child to split their time exactly in half. In such circumstances, a parent may be awarded primary physical custody of a child. This means that the parents share joint physical custody, but the child’s residence for school enrollment purposes is the residence of the parent with primary physical custody.
Child Custody Considerations Applied by Courts in Riverside and San Bernardino
When parents are unable to reach a stipulated agreement in a custody case, they may end up on opposite sides of a courtroom. Our attorneys will provide the knowledge and skill necessary to prevail in a child custody case efficiently and effectively, taking into consideration the best interests of the child.
Each parent and custody case our Riverside child custody lawyer represents is unique, and so are the factors that may impact the outcome of their custody case.
Those factors may include:
- Activities each parent is involved in with the child
- Amount of time each parent currently spends with the child
- Whether a parent is promoting a healthy and positive relationship between the child and the other parent (alienation)
- Volatile circumstances that disrupt the child’s quality of life (arguments, threats, negativity, or domestic violence)
- Work schedules of both parents, travel, and commitments outside the home
Many child custody cases are filled with complications and intricacies (such as move-away requests) requiring the knowledge and skill of an experienced child custody lawyer who is accomplished in the field. We provide a free consultation to anyone who is seeking to put the best interests of their child first.
Our Riverside County child custody attorney understands the difficult nature of even the idea of spending time away from your child, which is why we focus on positive solutions for everyone involved, especially your child. Parental separation is already very complicated, and children often feel torn about the circumstances that will determine where they live, how they will travel, and how much time they get to spend with each parent.
Riverside Custody Attorneys Combining Knowledge & Skill With Compassion & Dedication
Our experience inside and outside of the courtroom allows us to consistently deliver exceptional results for the families we represent. Our Riverside custody attorneys are interested in finding tailored solutions to each family’s problems, using the facts and investigative tactics necessary to produce real-time solutions for our clients. A legal child custody battle does not have to mean lingering scorn and contempt for the other parent.
Our Riverside child custody attorneys will advise you every step of the way, so this confusing and frightening time of fighting for your child’s best interests becomes less challenging and more palatable from beginning to end.
If you anticipate a legal child custody battle is imminent in your life, it is important to know that a Riverside child custody attorney can help you understand the process, so you can temper your anxiety about what’s to come. We can help get you there faster, so you can get your life back on track.
Contact Our Experienced Riverside, California Child Custody Attorney Now
Parents can rely on the experience of our Riverside child custody attorneys in obtaining child custody orders, agreements, and judgments. Our Southern California family law firm fights hard to make the legal system work for our clients. We understand that it is often in the best interests of the child for the parents to come to an amicable stipulated agreement regarding custody or visitation. Contact our accomplished and dedicated Riverside child custody lawyers today by calling (909) 966-5245 to learn how our experienced custody attorney, Ronald B. Talkov, can guide you through the court process in a prompt and clear manner.