Client Testimonials

Why You Might Need a Laguna Hills Child Custody Lawyer

Determining child custody is one of the court’s biggest decisions. Our child custody lawyers are professionals at representing their clients on these kinds of proceedings and showing evidence as to why their clients should have custody of their child.

You should know, Child custody isn’t always awarded to the mother of the child. Joint parental custody is preferred, but one person is considered the main custodial parent. A child custody attorney can show your case to the judge outlining the reason why you think you would be the better selection for the primary custodial parent. Our Laguna Hills Child custody lawyers also work directly with private investigators when necessary to find out as many facts about the case as they can.

Our Child custody attorneys will spend the time in finding possible witnesses for you, developing a schedule for visitation to present to the other parent, and working with the court to establish which parent is most suitable for custody.

Some custody cases tend to be emotional and volatile. The child custody attorneys at our firm will certainly protect your legal rights as a parent and do everything in their power to obtain a favorable outcome.

We make your child custody dispute case our concern, by means of hard work, determination, and a thorough application of our skills, we fight for favorable resolutions. With attention on due dates and court dates, we make sure you understand every step of the case. We strongly encourage communicating with us by means of telephone and email. We will pay attention to your needs and answer all questions and concerns you may have. Alongside one another, we work to win.

Winning consists of us being most effective and efficient. By means of advanced technology, we have computerized our practice, which raises efficiency and permits us to become more cost-effective. Most of our research is done through the Internet, saving time and legal fees.

To learn more about our Laguna Hills Child Custody Attorneys and just how we can help you, please contact us today. We look forward to hearing from you either by email or by phone. Our Laguna Hills child custody attorneys will set up a no cost consultation with you.

Before parents can take care of custody matters and visitation of their children, there must be a formally filed underlying action in the state family law court.

This means a petition for divorce or paternity (unmarried) could be filed by your family law lawyer.

If the parents are married, either the mother or the father’s family law attorney may file an action asking for dissolution of marriage, legal separation, or nullity or file the petition for custody and support of minor children’s action.

If the parents are unmarried, either the mothers’ or the fathers’ family law lawyer may file an action to establish the parental relationship or file the petition for custody and support of minor children.

This is typically carried out through a seasoned family law lawyer file an Order to Show Cause. This kind of process permits temporary orders to be granted before a trial or judgment. You may also file an Order to Show Cause post judgment.
What can you do to help your Laguna Hills Child Custody Case?
You may help tremendously in this important family law process. You can help maintain the cost to a minimum of your family law situation by giving the 4 standard information inputs demanded and necessary in all family law cases with custody issues:

1) Your Story
One to two pages, double spaced, 12 point font. When correct, shortly describe how you have been the primary care giver. Also quickly show any truthful improper behavior by the opposing party. Reflect on the basic features of being a parent:

  • Scholastic (educational)
  • Extra-curricular (sports, music, ballet, amusement parks, museums)
  • Medical (doctor visits)
  • Home life, living environment (home accommodations)
  • Religious affiliation

2) Income and Expense Declaration Form
Talk to our firm for this Income & Expense Declaration form. Fill up this form out as best as you can. Be sincere. If it is possible seek out help from a bookkeeper or accountant.
You can use a pencil and it may be in your own handwriting, just be neat. Present any supporting documents available, for instance a pay stub, tax return, and copies of some other financial accounts.
When you’ve done the very best that you can, send it to our firm so that we can help in the finalization of the Income and Expense Declaration form. Our family law attorneys will take a look at your declaration before filing in a family law court.

3) Future Custody Plan
Make sure you provide us with 1 to 2 pages clarifying your custody goals. Give attention to what is in the best interest of the kids. Describe the way you would want to exercise custody of the child or children. Give detail to the visitation schedule. Keep calendar and a map handy. Be realistic, fair, and reasonable.

The courts prefer the two parents to become active in the raising, loving and caring of children.
Remember, kids are innocent and are our country’s potential future citizens. Children are dependent upon us for their well-being.
Remember, family law courts like to keep the status quo except if there is certainly information and facts provided that would necessitate a change to a visitation schedule.

4) Evidence
Evidence in family law matters eventually becomes exhibits. Exhibits are simply just included in an organized fashion into any package of court documents your family law lawyer files on your behalf.
Whenever you formally ask for something, including Laguna Hills child custody or child support orders, in the court, it should be filed formally on your behalf by your family law attorney.
What this means is to just get any document that shows whatever you mentioned or requested in items #1 – #3 above.
Keep in mind one of the best ways to ensure you will be victorious in guarding your children is to become exact, well prepared, and arranged with the required proof, i.e. evidence!

May I have joint custody of the kids?
Some states have a joint custody law that really encourages judges to give joint legal custody to parents. Because of this both mom and dad have a right to make decisions regarding their children including education, treatment and religious training.
The court has also the power to award physical custody to one or both parents. Physical custody decides where the child will definitely live, and it’s also most typical for the children to spend nearly all of their time with one parent.
The parent who does not get primary physical custody is typically given secondary physical custody or visitation rights.
It is most common for the non-custodial parent to have specific periods of time consisting of alternating weekends, one evening per night and one-half of the children’s school vacations.
In some instances, the parents agree with fair secondary physical custody or visitation rights, which show that the parents agree on the times when the non-custodial parent will have the children.

If I get custody of our children, may I move with them to another metropolitan area?
Sometimes, a judge will issue orders preventing either parent from changing the home of the children from a specific geographical area.

Locally, it is not uncommon for a judge to keep the parents from taking out the home of the children from nearby counties. These kinds of orders are common where both parents have a significant amount of time with the children, and removing them from the metropolitan area could be bothersome to the children, and their growth.

Over the past ten years, state courts have already been working with the right of a custodial parent to move with the children to a different metropolitan area or outside the state. Under the new rule, the custodial parent generally has the right to determine where the children are to live, so long as he/she is not relocating simply to deny another parent access to the kids.