Child Custody Attorney, Lawyer, Los Angeles, California

CALIFORNIA CHILD CUSTODY AND VISITATION LAW:

File Your Case.

Time for talking is over, time for action is now!

Before parents can address the issues of custody and visitation of their minor children, there must be a formally filed underlying action in the California family law court.

This means a petition for divorce or paternity (unmarried) can be filed by your family law lawyer.

If the parents are married, either the mother or the father's family law attorney can file an action requesting a dissolution of marriage, legal separation, or nullity or file the petition for custody and support of minor children's action.

If the parents are unmarried, either the mothers' or the fathers' family law lawyer can file an action to establish the parental relationship or file the petition for custody and support of minor children.

This is typically acomplished by having an experienced family law laywer file an Order to Show Cause. This process allows for temporary orders to be granted before a trial or judgment. You can also file an Order to Show Cause post judgment.

What can I do?

You can assist tremendously in this necessary family law process. You can help keep the cost to a minimum of your family law matter by providing the four basic information inputs required and necessary in all family law cases involving custody issues:

1) Your Story.

Two-three pages, double space, 12 point font. If correct, briefly describe how you have been the primary care giver. Also briefly point out any truthful inappropriate behavior by the opposing party. Reflect on the basic aspects of being a parent:

Scholastic (educational)
Extra curricular (sports, music, ballet, amusement parks, museums)
Medical (doctor visits)
Home life, living environment (home accomodations)
Religious affiliation

2) Income and Expense Form.

Ask our firm for a blank form. Fill this form out to the best of your ability. Be truthful. If possible seek assistance by a bookkeeper or accountant.

You can use a pencil and it can be in your own handwriting, just be neat. Provide any supporting documents at your disposal, such as a pay stub, tax return, one of copy of financial account(s).

After you have done the best you can send it to our firm so when can assit in the completion of the income and expense form. Typically our family law custody paralegals assist for the final review by a family law attorney prior to filing in a family law court.

3) Future Custody Plan.

One-two pages, double space, 12 point font. Please be brief. The courts are clogged. You must be able to focus on what is in the best interest of the children in a brief custody plan.

Describe how you would like to excercise custody of your child or children. Keep in mind, all items reflected in item #1, as well as yours' and your opposing party's abilities, residences and occupations. Have a calendar and a map handy. Be realistic, fair, and reasonable.

The courts want both parents involved in the raising, loving and caring of children.

Keep in mind, children are innocent and are our nations future citizens. Children are depending on us for their well being. Please do not use them as pawns in mean and crazy adult games.

Remember, family law courts like to keep the status quo unless their is information provided that would necessitate an adjustment to a child schedule.

4) Evidence.

Evidence in family law matters eventually become exhibits. Exhibits are simply included in an organized fashion into any package of court documents your family law attorney files on your behalf.

When you formally request something, child custody orders, child support, in court, it must be filed formally on your behalf by your family law lawyer.

This means simply attain any document that proves anything you stated or requested in items #1 - #3 above.

For example,

If you stated in your story you have been the parent that drove your child to school, get a copy of the child/parent sign in sheet.
If you said your spouse has been arrested for drugs, get a copy of the arrest warrant.
If you stated that the other parent removed money from the family joint checking account, get a copy of the bank statement reflecting the removal of funds.
If you said you only make a certain amount of money in the income and expense form, get a copy of your pay stub.
If you stated in your future custody plan that you have a new two bedroom home or apartment furnished as if approved by inspectors from Walt Disney, provide a photograph of the childrens rooms.
If you stated in the future custody plan that you will be living one mile from the childrens school, get a copy of the lease, or purchase contract showing your address along with a Map Quest.com printout reflecting that you are in fact living one mile from the chilldren's school.

Keep in mind one of the best ways to insure that you will be successful in protecting your children is to be accurate, prepared, and organized with the necessary proof, i.e. evidence!

Can I get joint custody of my children?

California has a "joint custody" law that encourages judges to award joint "legal custody" to parents. This means that both parents have a right to make decisions concerning their children such as; education, medical treatment and religious training.

The court also has the power to award "physical custody" to one or both parents. Physical custody determines where the child actually lives, and it is most common for the children to spend most of their time with one parent.

The parent who does not have primary physical custody is usually granted "secondary physical custody" or visitation rights.

It is most common for the non-custodial parent to have specified periods of time consisting of alternating weekends, one evening per night and one-half of the children's school vacations.

In some cases, the parents agree to "reasonable" secondary physical custody or visitation rights, which means that the parents agree on the times when the non-custodial parent will have the children.

If I have custody of our children, can I relocate with them to another metropolitan area?

In some cases, a judge will issue orders preventing either parent from changing the residence of the children from a specified geographical area.

Locally, it is not uncommon for a judge to restrain the parents from removing the residence of the children from what are referred to as "the seven Southern California counties."

Such orders are common where both parents have a considerable amount of time with the children, and removing them from the metropolitan area would be disruptive to the children, and their development.

Over the last ten years, courts in California have been dealing with the right of a custodial parent to move with the children to another metropolitan area or out of state. The California State Supreme Court recently decided a case that settled this controversy.

Under the new rule, the custodial parent generally has the right to decide where the children are to live, as long as he/she is not moving simply to deny the other parent access to the children.

9 California Family Law & Child Custody Attorneys:

Michael Kelly

Steven Fernandez

Craig Nadai

Marjorie McCarthy

Crystal Boultinghouse

Mark Karney

Matthew Rich

Mitchell Sperling

Steven Shore

California Family Law Institute (MAP)
429 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 120
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 393-0236 Fax (310) 393-4221
California Family Law Institute (e-mail)

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