Long Beach| Los Angeles| Orange County| Child Custody Lawyer
How the responsibility for raising a child is divided between the parents after they separate is probably the most contentious area within Family Law. A judgment of divorce involving children, or a paternity judgment, will specify how the parents shall share legal and physical custody of the children jointly, (joint custody), or whether one of the other of them shall have sole legal and, or, sole physical custody. Child custody and visitation orders can be in the initial orders pending a judgment, a judgment or in post-judgment modification orders.
Legal Custody
The duty to make decisions for a child while he or she is still a minor. e.g. choosing school, medical treatment, religious upbringing.
Physical Custody
The duty to provide care for the child on a day to day basis.
Emergency (Ex parte) Child Custody Orders
California Family Code Section 3064(a) requires that a court not grant an order modifying custody on an ex parte basis unless the requesting party establish that not to grant it would cause immediate harm to the child or that there is a danger that the child will be removed from California. Examples of what would be considered immediate harm to the child include: recent acts of domestic violence by a parent and, sexual abuse of the child
In California parents are encouraged to resolve their differences over child custody and visitation without the need for a judge to hear their issues and make a ruling. That is why parties are sent to classes on cooperative parenting and must attempt to resolve their issues with the help of a court assigned mediator (Family Law Facilitator) before a judge will hear their case.
Best Interests of the Child
The are a number of principles the courts follow in determining child custody issues. The most important is “best interests of the child”. In determining the child’s best interest the court looks to statutes, (e.g. rebuttable presumption that parent who has been found to have committed domestic violence is not entitle to legal or physical custody), case law(factors to be considered in determining whether a parent is entitled to move out of area with the parties minor child), and the factual circumstances of the case, (e.g. amount of time child was living with each parent prior to the court hearing)
Contact
Law Office of B. Stuart Walker
115 Pine Ave Suite 420
Long Beach, CA 908022
(Within walking distance of the Long Beach Courthouse)
(877) 372-6738 (toll free) or
(562) 598-7486
stuart@thebeachlaw.com
