Child Custody and Visitation
Disagreements over Child Custody and Visitation is one of the hardest issues for parties to navigate and for the Court to address. Unlike financial issues, there are not clear right and wrong approaches to disagreement over custody and visitation issues.
The Court focuses on one thing: The Best Interests of the child or children. While that is an easy phrase to remember, it encompasses many sometimes competing issues. School issues, medical issues, holiday schedules, after-school activities, and the day-to-day schedule are just a few items that are decided using a “best interest” analysis.
The best cases are those where the parents are in agreement as to what is in their child’s best interests. The hardest cases are those where they are not. Particularly contested cases often will involve outside experts, such as custody evaluators or recommending mediators.
Family Court Services
In California, before the Court can make orders, the parties will be sent to Family Court Services (sometimes called mediation). In Alameda county, these mediations make reports to the Court after meeting with the parties. Contra Costa county, uses a tiered system, which may or may not result in a report.
Being prepared for mediation helps clients achieve success in what they believe is in the best interest of their children. Henry will work with your to help plan your schedule, address disagreements, and how to navigate this process.
Legal Custody
Legal Custody is usually about decision-making. Health, Education, Activities, etc. Legal custody can be joint, or sole.
Physical Custody
Physical custody is generally a function of visitation. If one parent has less than 25% visitation, then the other parent generally has sole physical custody. Otherwise, it is generally joint physical custody.
Visitation
This is the day-to-day schedule. When are the children physically in the care of one parent or the other? Holidays, school breaks, and vacations, are all part of the visitation schedule.
There’s a form for that!
The Judicial Council has created a number of custody and visitation forms which can help parties think about these issues and create a parenting plan. See them here.