Parents want to do what is best for their children. Often, the hard part is getting them to agree on what that is. It is almost always best for a couple to put their differences aside and come to an agreement. Children know when parents are trying to work together to provide them with the most secure and happiest possible situation. Not only is it less stressful for the children, it is typically easier on the parents as well.
At the Fleming Family Law offices in Anaheim, one of the first thing we ask is this: Who would you rather have deciding about what’s right for your children — you, or the person in the black robe who knows nothing about your family?
Although we encourage parental collaboration, there is a formal filing process that must be addressed. By working with an experienced family law attorney, you can help ensure that your joint decision is put into action. When underlying factors prevent an agreeable parenting plan, your attorney will make sure that both your child’s best interests and your rights are protected.
When your child’s future is at stake, call us at 714-855-1043, toll free at 866-698-3123 or contact Anaheim law firm by e-mail. We are available to answer questions or schedule a free, confidential consultation.
Child Custody Law
California is a joint custody state, but that does not necessarily mean that the child will split the time they live with each parent evenly. “Legal custody” means that both parents will share in decisions about important issues in their child’s life, such as education and medical treatment. “Physical custody” may be awarded to both parents, but often, one parent will have primary physical custody. The non-custodial parent is then granted visitation, or “secondary physical custody.”
Most important to the court is what is in the best interest of the child. Other issues that may be factored into the court’s decision include the health, safety and welfare of the child, whether there is drug or alcohol abuse by a parent, whether one spouse has been the perpetrator of domestic violence and the nature and amount of contact with both parents
In the case of an unmarried couple, a parental relationship may need to