At the Harris Family Law Group, our skilled family law attorneys in Los Angeles provide our clients with personalized legal strategies that allow them to make informed decisions about their futures with confidence.
We understand that one of the scariest parts about a California divorce is facing the fact that your children may have to begin splitting their time between your and their other parent’s homes.
Focusing on your children’s best interests throughout the procedure will allow both you and your soon-to-be-ex-spouse to design a parenting plan that maintains the quality of life they enjoyed before the divorce.
Our Los Angeles County child custody attorneys provide customized legal strategies and solutions to pursue the best outcome for each of the clients, so they can continue to build a safe and nurturing future for their children.
Parents come in all forms, whether they have been married for 20 years or six months.
They come in all genders, identities, races, religions, and relationships including those who are married, those who were never married, and those who are seeking to establish paternity but the one thing they all have in common is prioritizing the health and welfare of their children when it is time to create a child custody agreement.
Deciding where your children will live after a divorce, once a relationship ends, or upon determining paternity is one of the most emotional decisions any parent must make whether they are planning to do so amicably, through mediation, or litigation.
No matter how simple or complex your divorce and child custody cases may be, our skilled Los Angeles attorneys will create a customized legal approach to producing the best results for your unique needs, so you can start moving forward in a positive direction.
That begins with establishing who will receive legal and/or physical custody of the children and whether they will share those responsibilities with the other parent or handle them alone.
Legal custody in California includes the right for parents to make major decisions about their child’s well-being, including where they attend school, which religion they practice, and ongoing healthcare choices.
Joint legal custody is when both parents share in the responsibilities of making these important decisions for their children.
Sole legal custody exists when one parent is making all the major decisions for the children, and the other parent is not given any input.
Physical custody in Los Angeles refers to where the child or children will live.
This, too, can be awarded as sole physical custody where one parent is designated as the custodial parent and the other has visitation rights or as joint physical custody, where the children split their time equally between both households.
When parents cannot create a custody agreement on their own, or during mediation, the court will evaluate the facts of their unique case to determine a custody agreement for them.
To do so, the judge may evaluate:
In California, our family court judges believe both parents should play a significant role in their children’s lives.
However, we understand that is not always the case. Sometimes, child custody matters can become intense, and require an experienced Los Angeles attorney to evaluate the facts of the case to ensure your kid’s best interests are at the forefront of each case.
Depending on your unique family dynamics and your relationship with the other parent, we will ensure your kids and their overall well-being are the priority.
The Harris Family Law Group is dedicated to producing strategic results for our clients, no matter their family law or child custody legal needs, or which side of the courtroom they are on.
Our Los Angeles child custody attorney will outline your legal rights and options to help you make informed decisions about your divorce and the welfare of your children.
We provide full-service family law legal representation that can be combined including divorce, spousal support, child custody, and child support or we will partner with our clients to take on a single-family law requirement without issue.
That means even if another attorney handled your divorce, we would take the lead in exploring the best outcome for any of the following practice areas, so your rights are always protected:
At the Harris Family Law Group, our Los Angeles child custody lawyer believes everyone should have access to experienced legal representation for their complete family law needs.
That is why we provide free initial case assessments for all new clients and have flat rate legal fees, so there are no billable hours for our services.
The Harris Family Law Group is here to help you provide your child with the best life possible, whether it is solely with you or with both parents sharing the responsibility and decision-making.
We handle child custody cases from their inception, review already existing arrangements, or appeals to the courts for a modification of judgment when one parent’s situation has changed since the arrangement was first made.
Contact our skilled Los Angeles child custody lawyer today at 310-745-8644 to discuss your case during a free case evaluation. We are here to help provide the best outcome for your unique family law needs, starting now.
In California, there are two types of custody: legal custody and physical custody. Legal custody refers to the right to make decisions about the child’s upbringing, such as education and medical care. Physical custody refers to where the child lives.
Yes, a parent can file for custody without an attorney. However, it is recommended that they consult with an attorney to understand their legal rights and options.
The custody process can take several months or longer, depending on the complexity of the case and the court’s schedule.
In California, a child’s preference is considered but not determinative. The court will consider the child’s age and maturity level when determining how much weight to give to their preference.
Yes, grandparents can seek custody of a child if they can show that it is in the best interests of the child.
Yes, a parent can lose custody if they are found to be unfit or unable to care for the child.
Yes, a custody order can be modified if there has been a significant change in circumstances since the original order was issued.
A parent cannot move out of state with a child without the other parent’s consent or a court order.
Supervised visitation is a court-ordered arrangement where a parent can only visit their child in the presence of a neutral third party.
No, a parent cannot deny court-ordered visitation without a valid reason. If there is a concern for the child’s safety, the parent should seek a modification of the visitation order.
If a parent violates a custody order, they may be held in contempt of court and face penalties such as fines or even jail time.
If a custody order is not being followed, a parent can file a motion with the court to enforce the order. They may also seek the assistance of law enforcement or the court’s family law facilitator.
