When you are fighting for custody, it can feel like your life is on the line. You have invested everything into loving and raising your kids, and facing a family split can cause you to feel as if you are losing everything that has made your life meaningful. What if you lose out on time with your children or miss important milestones or feel like less of a presence in their lives? With the help of our San Jacinto custody lawyers, you can proceed with the reassurance that your child’s best interests and your relationship with them are being represented and protected.
The Grey Legal Group has a collective 75 years of experience helping clients meet their legal needs and care for their families throughout the process. If you are fighting for child custody, we will work with you to create personalized strategies that meet the particulars of your custody goals.
Reach out to schedule a free initial consultation with a member of our team and learn more about how we can make a difference in your custody journey.
Understanding Child Custody In California
You and your co-parent can work together out of court, through mediation or negotiation, to come to a custody agreement. These non-adversarial dispute resolution methods are often easier on the kids and easier on you; they tend to be more affordable, and they also tend to give you more control over the outcome.
However, in the event that you and your co-parent just can’t agree on how custody should be divided, a judge will decide. When courts make decisions regarding child custody in California, they always do so by evaluating and acting in the best interest of the child. When it comes to best interest, courts generally believe that it serves the child’s healthy development to have access to both parents, so they will likely award joint custody or at least visitation.
However, there are circumstances where it is not in the best interest of the child to have access to both parents, such as if one parent is abusive or suffering from a debilitating substance addiction.
Some of the aspects of custody you should familiarize yourself with include how it can be broken down, such as:
- Legal custody: Parents with legal custody make parenting decisions for the child, such as where they will attend school, what after school activities that can be involved in, the healthcare measures they will take, what time they will go to bed, and so on.
- Physical custody: Parents who have physical custody live with their child. They are the ones who are housing their child either full or part-time. Parents with legal custody also typically have legal custody, also either full or part-time.
- Joint custody: Both parents might have custody at different points. Parents who share custody are said to have joint custody. Joint custody can be equal or one parent might have more time with the child than the other.
How Our San Jacinto Custody Lawyers Can Help You
The court will try to evaluate the best interest of the child by asking questions such as:
- Who has been the primary caregiver for the child?
- Who has more time to spend with the child?
- Who is in the better financial position to care for the child?
- Who can provide more stability?
- Who can provide a better home life?
- Does the child, if they are old enough, have a preference?
- Does each parent have the ability to care for the child?
Our San Jacinto custody lawyers can help you present your case for your preferred custody arrangement by answering these questions and more with arguments that underscore your abilities as a parent and how you meet your child’s needs.
The Grey Legal Group Can Help You Fight For Your Child’s Best Interest
The Grey Legal Group can help you with personalized strategies that help you meet your goals for custody and serve the needs of your child. Reach out for a free initial consultation with a member of our team.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can child custody be modified?
Yes, child custody can be modified. If you have a reason for wanting to rearrange your child custody plan, such as if you have relocated or secured a new job, you should discuss your options with a member of our team.
Does my child get a say in how custody is arranged?
Although a judge might take into account a child’s preferences when deciding custody provided the child is old enough, your child will not have the final say in decision making.
Can a criminal conviction mean that I lose custody of my child?
Yes, a criminal conviction can cause you to lose custody. However, it is not a sure thing. Whether or not you lose custody will depend on factors such as the nature of the crime and the recency of the conviction. A judge will be able to use their discretion when deciding on if criminal activity should bar you from child custody.
