Certified Family Law Specialist, State Bar of California, and Board of Legal Specialization
Provided they are safe and cared for appropriately, children have the right to enjoy time with both of their parents. When two parents are either divorced or are not together, they may agree to share time with their child equally. However, when parents are unable to agree on a specific parenting schedule, they may have to seek the court’s assistance to determine custody.
There are different types of custody arrangements in California, and a court must consider several factors when determining which situation would work in the best interests of the child. If you face a dispute over parenting time, a Ventura County child custody lawyer could explain what factors a judge may look at in your case and advocate for a resolution that protects your parental rights. Additionally, our family attorneys could do their best to support you through this challenging time.
The state’s public policy ensures that children have frequent contact with both parents after they have divorced or ended their relationship. However, if a parent abandons a child, is unable to care for them, or refuses to take responsibility for their child, a court may award sole custody to the other parent. Because each case comes with unique circumstances, one custody arrangement may be completely different from another. As such, a judge may award two distinct types of custody to each parent.
Physical custody is where a child resides on a day-to-day basis. If a child’s parents decide not to live together, one parent may have primary physical custody, or the parents could share in this arrangement. Shared physical custody does not necessarily mean that a child spends precisely one-half of their time with each parent, but that the child may live with either party at any given time.
Divorcing or separating couples have two different options for their child’s legal custody. Under a joint legal custody arrangement, both parents can make significant decisions about their child’s health, education, and welfare. Some of these decisions include:
If one parent assumes the role of sole legal custodian, they have the right to make the final decisions for their child, even over the other parent’s objection. A lawyer in Ventura County understands the critical differences between sole and joint legal custody and could help a parent determine which arrangement meets their child’s needs.
The standard a court must apply in child custody cases is the ‘best interest of the child.’ This means that any decision a court makes must be in the child’s best interests first. In making these determinations, California Code, Family Code §3011 mandates that the court consider the following factors:
A court cannot consider a parent’s gender, gender expression, or sexual orientation when deciding custody. A Ventura County attorney could ensure that all relevant evidence relating to these factors is presented to the judge hearing the child custody case.
If domestic violence, child abuse, or a threat to a child’s health and safety is alleged in a case, a court could deny a parent custody or visitation. The parent raising the concerns must provide specific evidence of the abuse or threats to a court. A Ventura County attorney could assess the impact of any domestic abuse allegations on a court’s determination of child custody.
The prospect of losing the day to day contact with your child due to a divorce or separation can be extremely stressful. You may have questions about how a court determines your child’s custody if you and the other parent cannot agree.
If you are facing a custody battle, one of the most important steps you can take is to contact a knowledgeable lawyer. Our firm’s attorneys understand how state law is applied in these cases and what evidence a judge needs to make the best decision for your child. Contact a Ventura County child custody lawyer to discuss your case.
Hoffer Family Law Firm
