Fighting for child custody can be one of the most consequential moments in a parent’s life. Naturally you want to do what’s best for your child, and you believe that means being extremely involved in their life, because you know how much they love and rely on you. In order to feel confident that the court will understand how important it is that you still have plenty of time with your children, you need the help of our Norco custody lawyers.
The family lawyers of The Grey Legal Group can help you fight for your desired child custody arrangement for your family. After all, you know your child better than anyone, so your voice and opinions should be heard! Reach out to schedule a free initial consultation with a member of our team, and we will begin getting to know you and your goals for child custody so we can start achieving them.
What You Need To Know About Child Custody In California
When making decisions on child custody, the court always adheres to the standard of “best interest.” If your case is not able to be resolved through non-adversarial means like mediation or negotiation, the court will work to determine what arrangement will be in the best interest of your child by asking about issues such as:
- Who has been the primary caregiver for the child?
- Whose schedule allows for spending more time with a child?
- Who can provide a more stable home environment?
- Who can send the child to a better school or offer better healthcare?
- How does each parent treat and interact with the child?
- If the child is of a certain age, what is their preference?
These questions and more will be used to evaluate how custody should be arranged. If you are worried that you might be denied any time with your child, put the concern to rest. Courts consider it important that children have time to spend with both parents as it is considered healthy for childhood development. However, how much time – and other matters – are at stake, which is why it is important to have attorneys you trust in your corner who can make a persuasive case.
That being said, there are exceptional circumstances in which it is not considered ideal for a child to be around a parent, such as if that parent is abusive, has a substance addiction issue, or has severe mental health issues. If this describes the other parent, we can work with you to pursue sole custody or limited visitation rights.
How Our Norco Custody Lawyers Can Help
When you work with our experienced Norco custody lawyers, we can help you make an argument for why the arrangement you prefer is the necessary one. We can also help you provide answers to the pertinent questions that help give the court an accurate vision of the needs of your child.
We can also help you understand legal terminology that might seem lofty or inaccessible, as well as help you understand basic legal concepts so that you are always in the know. For example, here is a quick rundown of some common custody terms that will help you understand moving forward:
- Legal custody: When a parent has legal custody, they are the one who makes parenting decisions for the child, such as where they will go to school, when they will visit the doctor, what after school activities that can be involved in, and so on.
- Physical custody: Physical custody is another way of indicating which parent the child lives with. Parents with legal custody also typically have legal custody.
- Joint custody: If parents share joint custody, they share some level of legal and physical custody. Joint custody can be broken down equally or one parent might have a greater amount of custody than the other.
When you have any questions or concerns about the legal process, The Grey Legal is here to help and support you!
The Grey Legal Group Can Help With Your Child Custody Process
With over 75 years of combined family law experience, The Grey Legal Group puts their collective knowledge and effort behind every case. We offer personalized strategies to meet your custody goals since no legal strategy and no family is one-size-fits all. Reach out to schedule a free initial consultation with a member of our team, and we will begin walking you through the first steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I move to another state if I share joint custody of my children?
If taking your child would risk violating the custody of your co-parent, you must go to court in order to request a modification. That being said, it’s unlikely you will be allowed to take your child with you unless you have some compelling reason or the support of your co-parent.
My ex is lying in court to get sole custody. What can I do?
If your ex is using false allegations in order to ensure you don’t have custody, the first step is to remain calm and begin to collect evidence that disproves their allegations. Whatever you do, do not lash out. We will work with you to present the true versions of events in court and expose the lies of your ex. Remember, child custody courts do not look positively on a parent who lies for their own gain.
Will my mental health history have an impact on custody arrangements?
Possibly. If a parent has mental health struggles, the court might deem it in the best interest of the child to not remain in the care of that parent. However, your experience will be determined by factors such as your specific diagnoses, whether you are up-to-date on your medication, and the opinion of your doctor.
