Child Custody and Visitation2021-03-22T15:21:08+00:00

HONEST GUIDANCE FOR

Optimal Child Custody and Parenting Time

You deserve an honest conversation about child custody and what you can do to achieve optimal time with your children. At the Law Offices of Kathleen G. Alvarado, our Riverside child custody lawyers offer straightforward legal advice to assist you in child custody and divorce. Several factors impact the outcome of child custody and visitation. We will ask you a number of questions to offer you an initial outlook at child custody. Some of our questions include:

  • What does your child’s routine look like?
  • Who brings them to school?
  • Which parent attends after school activities?
  • Who helps your child with their homework?
  • Where will both parents live after the divorce?
  • Is there history of family abuse?

These questions will help us understand your child’s routine and give us a look into their life at home. In the end, a child custody order should allow for consistent routine and contact with both parents. The judge’s intent will be to establish child custody that is in the best interests of your child. This means that the child should have a sense of stability and a routine, which nurtures healthy home and school environments.

Should I Hire a Lawyer for Child Custody?

A child custody battle is likely to be one of the most challenging, stressful, and expensive experiences of a divorcing parent’s life. Attempting to navigate child custody proceedings without legal representation is not a good idea, especially if your child’s other parent has their own legal representation. This would put you at a tremendous disadvantage, potentially leading you to agree to a custody determination that you could have improved with legal counsel.

Hiring an experienced Riverside child custody lawyer to assist you in your child custody battle can be a tremendous relief. Your attorney will handle your legal affairs on your behalf, keeping you updated about case proceedings and preparing you for hearings and court appearances. Your attorney can also ensure the child custody determination considers all relevant facts in play and ultimately helps you craft the strongest possible custody case.

Should I Hire a Lawyer for Child Custody?

A child custody battle is likely to be one of the most challenging, stressful, and expensive experiences of a divorcing parent’s life. Attempting to navigate child custody proceedings without legal representation is not a good idea, especially if your child’s other parent has their own legal representation. This would put you at a tremendous disadvantage, potentially leading you to agree to a custody determination that you could have improved with legal counsel.

Hiring an experienced Riverside child custody lawyer to assist you in your child custody battle can be a tremendous relief. Your attorney will handle your legal affairs on your behalf, keeping you updated about case proceedings and preparing you for hearings and court appearances. Your attorney can also ensure the child custody determination considers all relevant facts in play and ultimately helps you craft the strongest possible custody case.

How Do I Find the Best Child Custody Lawyer?

When you need professional legal services, it is usually a good idea to look for personal recommendations from friends and family members who have faced similar legal troubles in the past. If you know someone who recently went through a child custody determination, ask them if they recommend an attorney. Otherwise, take time to research and find the most experienced and reputable Riverside child custody attorneys who you believe capable of handling your case.

At the Law Offices of Kathleen G. Alvarado, Attorney Alvarado and her legal team offer years of practical experience handling the most complex child support and child custody cases. We understand how emotionally draining these experiences are for families and do everything we can to streamline our clients’ case proceedings toward favorable outcomes. Rest assured, a good Riverside child custody lawyer will take the time to get to know you and your family to understand your needs and ascertain the best possible outcome in your child custody determination.

What Is the Difference Between Legal and Physical Custody?

Child custody can be determined by both legal and physical custody. Legal custody establishes the right to make important decisions regarding your child’s education, health care, and well-being. Physical custody determines where your child lives. You may request sole responsibility for these decisions, or you may end up sharing them with the other parent.

It is important for divorcing parents to remember that while they may negotiate a parenting plan privately through divorce mediation, they cannot set firm rules for custody without a judge’s approval. A California family court judge must review a custody determination to ensure it preserves the children’s best interests involved in the case.

In many cases, this may mean uneven ratios of physical and legal custody between the parents. For example, the parents may share legal custody 50/50 and be required to consult one another about major decisions for their children. However, if it makes more practical sense for the children to live with one parent over the other, that parent becomes the custodial parent. In this case, this parent would receive a greater share of physical custody.

What Is the Difference Between Legal and Physical Custody?

Child custody can be determined by both legal and physical custody. Legal custody establishes the right to make important decisions regarding your child’s education, health care, and well-being. Physical custody determines where your child lives. You may request sole responsibility for these decisions, or you may end up sharing them with the other parent.

It is important for divorcing parents to remember that while they may negotiate a parenting plan privately through divorce mediation, they cannot set firm rules for custody without a judge’s approval. A California family court judge must review a custody determination to ensure it preserves the children’s best interests involved in the case.

In many cases, this may mean uneven ratios of physical and legal custody between the parents. For example, the parents may share legal custody 50/50 and be required to consult one another about major decisions for their children. However, if it makes more practical sense for the children to live with one parent over the other, that parent becomes the custodial parent. In this case, this parent would receive a greater share of physical custody.

How Do You Win a Custody Battle?

One of the most common errors divorcing parents make is focusing on “winning” in their child custody cases. What is most important is ensuring the outcome suits your child’s best interests. Regardless of your feelings toward your child’s other parent, unless they have harmed, abused, or neglected the child or pose some other credible danger to them, they have the same right to be a parent as you do. Instead of focusing on winning your custody case, focus on being collaborative and cooperative with the goal of developing the child custody arrangement that works best for your child.

When it comes to succeeding with your personal goals for child custody, your priority must be demonstrating your capability as a parent and the ability to provide for your children’s needs constantly. Judges look for stability and financial security to ensure children have their everyday needs met without struggle. Your Riverside child custody attorney will help you gather the evidence, documentation, and references you will need to present the best possible image to the California family court.

What Do Judges Look for in Child Custody Cases?

Whether you litigate your divorce or negotiate it privately through alternative dispute resolution, your child custody agreement must eventually pass before a California family court judge for final review and approval. Judges must ensure custody determinations protect children’s best interests; therefore, they will review various factors in making a final decision regarding custody, including:

  • The incomes of the parents.
  • The current family dynamics between the children and their parents.
  • The medical needs of the children.
  • The age, medical condition, and overall health of the parents.
  • The work schedules and availability of the parents.
  • Each parent’s living situation, including the spaces they have made for their children.
  • Records of domestic violence or other legal trouble within the family.

Every child custody case is different, and there are countless other possible factors a judge may consider when ruling on a child custody case.

What Do Judges Look for in Child Custody Cases?

Whether you litigate your divorce or negotiate it privately through alternative dispute resolution, your child custody agreement must eventually pass before a California family court judge for final review and approval. Judges must ensure custody determinations protect children’s best interests; therefore, they will review various factors in making a final decision regarding custody, including:

  • The incomes of the parents.
  • The current family dynamics between the children and their parents.
  • The medical needs of the children.
  • The age, medical condition, and overall health of the parents.
  • The work schedules and availability of the parents.
  • Each parent’s living situation, including the spaces they have made for their children.
  • Records of domestic violence or other legal trouble within the family.

Every child custody case is different, and there are countless other possible factors a judge may consider when ruling on a child custody case.

What Happens After I Have a Custody Order?

Once you have completed your child custody case, you will have a child custody order in hand that will outline the terms and conditions of your custody rights. It is crucial to fully understand the components of your child custody agreement and to abide by your obligations to the letter. Violating a child custody agreement in any way can lead to significant penalties. Depending on the severity and frequency of child custody agreement violations, the parent in violation could face financial penalties or even a loss of their custody rights.

If your life changes and your child custody agreement is no longer tenable under your new circumstances, you must file a motion for modification of your child support order. It is also possible to file a post-judgment motion in this manner if you believe your child custody or support terms require modification. Parents may request to increase, decrease, or terminate child support payments under certain conditions, and it is also possible for parents to argue for altered custody terms.

If you must revisit your child custody agreement, it is best to work with an experienced Riverside child custody lawyer to help you navigate this process. The right attorney can review your custody order and evaluate the recent changes that have prompted your post-judgment modification. This process may only require a single hearing for you to alter your child custody order to include more reasonable terms.

FIND LEGAL COUNSEL IN THE RIVERSIDE AREA FOR YOUR CHILD CUSTODY BATTLE

A custody order will have a major impact on your child’s future. It is important to receive legal guidance from an experienced family law attorney. At the Law Offices of Kathleen G. Alvarado, we are passionate advocates for child custody cases in the Inland Empire. We will help you work toward the maximum parenting time with your children.

We will assist you in setting attainable goals for a divorce settlement and visitation plans. We can help you determine when it is best to settle or fight. We will never agree on a quick settlement when it is not optimal for you. We will protect your interests both in sessions and in the courtroom. Our founding attorney, Kathleen G. Alvarado, has over 30 years of experience in practicing law. She is joined by Daniel Shahidzadeh, a dedicated attorney with over 10 years of legal experience. Their skill in litigation and negotiation will help you achieve your goals. Contact the Law Offices of Kathleen G. Alvarado today to schedule your consultation with a compassionate and experienced Riverside child custody attorney.

Family Law Practice Areas

Law Offices of Kathleen G. Alvarado | Riverside, CA

Divorce

Law Offices of Kathleen G. Alvarado | Riverside, CA

Child Custody And Visitation

Law Offices of Kathleen G. Alvarado | Riverside, CA

Child Support

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