Southern California Child Custody Lawyers Attorneys

The legal process of determining which parent should have sole custody of a child, or whether parents should share custody, or custody should be granted to a third party, can be one of the most divisive and difficult aspects of family law. California family law courts take questions of custody very seriously and will rigorously evaluate the facts of a child's situation in light of California state child custody law in reaching all custody determinations. At the Access Law Group, our California child custody attorneys have the experience and dedication to client service to guide you through the child custody process while working toward the best future for you and your children.

Physical and Legal Custody

Under California Law, there are two types of child custody that the court will determine: legal custody and physical custody. Legal custody is the ability to make decisions regarding a child's health, educational, religious matters, while physical custody is the determination of which parent will have the responsibility of actually providing a home for the child. Legal custody and physical custody can both be awarded jointly to both parents or solely to one parent.

How Custody is Awarded in California

Contrary to what some may think, California does not prefer the mother in determining how custody should be awarded between the parents. Instead, California family court judges are required by law to make custody determinations based on the best interests of the child. In this evaluation of what custody arrangement serves the best interests of the child, judges will evaluate the following factors:

The child's age
The preference of the child, if old enough to express a meaningful preference
How long the child has been in present situation, and whether it is adequate
The stability of any proposed living arrangements for the child
The willingness and ability of each parent to provide emotional support
The child's connection to school and community
The willingness of parents to provide access between child and one another
The capacity of each parent to cooperate in childcare
The ability of the parents to work together in resolving disputes
Domestic violence issuesAny other relevant factors

Help in Making Your Custody Argument

Both parents can work together through negotiation or mediation to find a custody situation that works best for the child and then present it to the court for approval, or the court can hear arguments from both parties on the above factors and why custody should be awarded to one parent over another. Our family law attorneys have the experience in child custody matters to properly evaluate all relevant factors of your situation and make the best possible argument to the court for your custody goals. In some cases, grandparents and other third parties may seek out custody of a child where parents are unable or unfit to provide care, and we work with those parties in custody matters as well.

Get Experienced Legal Representation in Your Child Custody Matter at a Reasonable Fee

Resolving child custody issues can be deeply stressful, but the family law attorneys at Access Lawyers Group are dedicated to helping their clients reach positive resolutions in all aspects of their child custody matter in the most efficient manner possible, while honoring their rights and interests every step of the way.

How Custody is Awarded in California

The child's age
The preference of the child, if old enough to express a meaningful preference
How long the child has been in present situation, and whether it is adequate
The stability of any proposed living arrangements for the child
The willingness and ability of each parent to provide emotional support
The child's connection to school and community
The willingness of parents to provide access between child and one another
The capacity of each parent to cooperate in childcare
The ability of the parents to work together in resolving disputes
Domestic violence issues
Any other relevant factors

Help in Making Your Custody Argument

In some cases, grandparents and other third parties may seek out custody of a child where parents are unable or unfit to provide care, and we work with those parties in custody matters as well.

Get Experienced Legal Representation in Your Child Custody Matter at a Reasonable Fee

Pasadena Family Law Attorney

Our experienced family law attorneys at Access Lawyers Group provide outstanding legal assistance to California people in a range of family law matters, including:

Prenuptial Agreements
Divorce
Child Custody
Child Support
Spousal Support
Property Division

Caring Representation in Family Law Matters

Divorce is a difficult and stressful experience and it helps to have a highly-skilled divorce lawyer to guide you through the process. At Access Lawyers Group, our goal is to protect your rights and interests, and those of your children, and to help you pursue the best possible outcome for your family.

Whether you are facing divorce or dealing with other family law matters such as child custody or child support, our California family lawyers have the skills and experience you want on your side. If you are planning to marry, we can assist you with a prenuptial agreement to give you certainty on how your assets will be distributed should the marriage come to an end at some future point.

Source: CA Department of Child Support Services: Guideline Calculator