Child Custody Lawyer In San Fernando Valley
Proudly Fighting For The Best Interests of Your Child With Years of Experience
California child custody law can be highly complex and confusing. An attorney in San Fernando, CA may play an important role in helping a parent understand his or her custody rights in regards to a divorce or legal separation.
At Cutter & Lax Attorneys at Law, our child custody lawyers understand that child custody is one of the most important points of any divorce or separation agreement. Although we have helped many families struggling with matters of child custody, we understand that each family and each situation is unique, and make sure to treat each case as such.
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Should I Hire A Lawyer For Child Custody?
Yes, you should hire a lawyer for your child custody case. Our child custody lawyers provide an essential advocate, particularly if your conditions are complicated or include abuse in any form. Hiring a child custody attorney can effect the outcome of your case.
You want what's best for your child, but your spouse may be unwilling to cooperate, may be unfit to be involved in raising your child or children, or may have different views on how to resolve your custody dispute.
It is important that you have a lawyer on your side to fight for your rights and represent your interests.
Factors Judges Consider in Child Custody Cases
The judge bases child custody choices on the very best interests of the child's needs.
San Fernando judges highly favor keeping a child in a plan that the child recognizes, such as allowing a kid to stay in the very same school or neighborhood.
However, the judge can deny a request to move if he or she believes the parent making the demand is trying to deny or restrict the other parent's access to the child.
Understanding Child Custody Types in San Fernando Valley
In California's family court, parents who are going through a divorce or legal separation must decide on child custody.
Child custody often refers to the rights and responsibilities of a child's parents, but also refers to who will take care of the child.
Legal vs. Physical Custody: What's the Difference?
- Legal Custody – Decides who makes important decisions on behalf of your child(ren).
- Physical Custody – Decides who the children will live with.
California law dictates that either parent can have custody of the children, or the parents can have shared custody.
Ultimately, a judge will decide the specifics of custody and visitation rights according to the best interests of the child. In order for this order to go into effect, both parents must agree.
Most child custody cases are not cut and dry, however, and emotions, money, affairs, or other ulterior motives could hinder the best possible outcome for you or your child.
Having qualified San Fernando Valley child custody lawyers by your side can help make sure your best interests are maintained in an often brutal court system.
If you are looking for compassionate but efficient and practical legal counsel concerning your divorce or family law needs, Cutter & Lax Attorneys at Law works to ensure your family is taken care of.
What Determines Who Gets Custody Of A Child?
In making decisions about child custody, the court will look to do what is in the best interests of the child.
As such, custody may be awarded to both parents jointly, or if one parent is deemed unfit in some way only one parent will be awarded custody.
Considerations for Child Custody Decisions
- The physical and mental health of each parent
- The income of each parent
- Each parent's ability to provide for the child's needs
- Each parent's ability to provide a safe and nurturing environment
- In some cases, the child's preference
If you are working to reach an agreement regarding child custody out of court, you may be able to create a flexible, creative solution to custody and visitation that works with you, your spouse's and your children's unique needs.
Creating a Successful Parenting Plan
According to the Parenting Plans guidelines established by California's Supreme Court and family law court, research findings show that in an effort to maximize a child's adjustment to the process of separation or divorce, "parents should cooperatively plan to establish a parenting arrangement that will ensure the child's right to continuous and frequent contact with both parents."
No matter what type of child custody guidelines you and your spouse agreed on, the fact remains that there are crucial factors that go into the development of your child.
Elements of an Effective Parenting Plan
- Age, gender, and stage of development of your children
- Emotional, social, and educational needs of your children
- Health, welfare, and safety of your children
- Levels of communication, and cooperative behavior between parents
- Parental ability and support of your children
- Cultural and social factors
Can a Mother Keep the Child Away From the Father in California?
A mother can keep a child away from the father in California without his consent could be held against a mother in court without reasonable cause. The state of California's family law system is challenging, and trying to understand without the help of a California child custody lawyer can be aggravating.
Addressing Special Circumstances in Custody Cases
Every divorce or separation is different, just as each child or parent involved is unique from any other family situation.
When Supervised Visitation May Be Necessary
- Child abuse or neglect from one spouse or parent
- Serious drug or alcohol abuse or addiction
- Criminal activity, or repeated jail time sentences
- Serious mental or psychosocial disorders
- Domestic violence from your spouse, or parent to child
- Continuously intense parental disagreement, conflict, or tension
When choosing a parenting plan, parents should always consider their relationship with their child, but also the children's relationship with the other parent.
Always look out for the best interest of your child and seek an optimally healthy and stable environment for your children to develop in.
Legal Support for San Fernando Valley Families
Parents who may be struggling with an uncooperative spouse or violent partner should seek help from an attorney serving San Fernando valley and nearby locations.
Cutter & Lax Attorneys at Law has been helping families with their legal needs for the past 30 years, and we work hard at reaching successful negotiations in tough conflicts.
Should a parent refuse to be in your child's life, or if you prevent the parent from being in the child's life, serious repercussions could take place.
Consult a San Fernando Valley Family Law Attorney Today
A parenting plan is not just an agreement or regulation for parents.
Parenting plans are implemented to create a sense of routine, predictability, and consistency during a time of extreme change for your children.
By having an agreed upon plan, children will learn what to expect during this time of transition, and create new patterns of day to day life.
Our family law attorneys at Cutter & Lax Attorneys at Law understand that the last thing you want is dysfunction or more heartache, and establishing a stable parenting plan with a custody lawyer serving San Fernando Valley is the best way to ensure that you and your children can get back on your feet.
Child Custody Legal Assistance in San Fernando Valley
When you hire a child custody attorney at Cutter & Lax Attorneys at Law, you can rest assured that you will be working with a legal expert who genuinely cares about you and your family, and who has your family's best interests in mind. Your attorney will help to ensure that you are equipped with all of the legal guidance and emotional support that you need during this time.
How a Child Custody Lawyer Can Support Your Case
- Paperwork: Taking care of all of the paperwork involved with your case
- Avoiding Mistakes: Ensuring that everything is completed correctly and helping you avoid costly mistakes
- Emotional Support: Serving as an emotional support system for you and your family
- Child Support: Helping you with other family matters including child support
- Protection: Protecting the rights of you and your child(ren)
- Representation: Representing you in the courtroom and fighting for a favorable settlement with your family's best interests in mind
Contact Our Child Custody Lawyers for a Free Consultation
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