Child Custody | San Diego Family Law Blog

How to Fight a Child Protective Services Decision

Child Protective Services (CPS) is under the California Department of Social Services. It is the state’s intervention system to stop child abuse and neglect. The goal of CPS is to ensure that children are safe in their homes and to find new solutions for children who are unsafe. CPS is required to act on any report it receives of suspected child abuse or neglect. It will investigate, intervene as needed, and provide whatever services the child needs to be safe.read more

How Piqui’s Law Affects Custody Hearings

California SB 616 is known as Piqui’s Law. It was passed unanimously by the State Assembly in August 2022. This bill is designed to protect innocent children from domestic violence and child abuse during custody disputes. It was named in honor of a five-year-old boy named Piqui who was murdered by his father in Los Angeles during a custody dispute in 2017. Piqui’s mother, Ana Estevez, reportedly fought hard in family court to protect her child from her abusive ex-husband, but the court refused to stop visitation.read more

Custody Disputes That Cross State Borders

As a caring and concerned parent, you will want to keep your child nearby even after separating from your ex-spouse. Trying to keep your child nearby can be a huge challenge, especially if you are no longer in a relationship with your co-parent. You will likely have conflicting interests with them as they also want to keep the child nearby. When you live in different homes, and your lives diverge, determining child custody can be complicated and overwhelming.read more

What If One of a Child’s Separated Parents Passes Away?

Divorce and everything associated with it can significantly affect your child’s mental well-being. Sharing custody with your ex-spouse often makes things better for your children as they will grow up with the love and care of both parents. However, if your ex-spouse passes away, you may wonder how custody is affected.read more

Child Custody for Christmas and the Holidays

Christmas, Kwanza, and Hanukkah are all significant holidays centered around family time, so it is understandable why separated parents would want their children with them during these times. However, the holiday season can be difficult and emotionally charged for divorced parents and their children. The holidays are often when families come together to celebrate, but for divorced families, this can be a time of conflict and stress.read more

The Common Catalysts of Custody Modifications

Child custody modifications alter the current custody arrangement to better fit new circumstances or changes in the relationship. There are many reasons why a custody modification may be necessary. For example, perhaps the custodial parent has remarried, and the new spouse is not providing a good environment for the children. Maybe the custodial parent has developed a drug or alcohol problem and can no longer care for the children. Or, the custodial parent may have relocated, and the children are having difficulty adjusting to the new school and community.read more

What Parental Rights Do Sex Offenders Have?

Child custody is complicated under any circumstances, and even more so when a parent is a registered sex offender. A sex offense conviction can have a significant affect on parental rights. If a parent is a registered sex offender or convicted of a sexual act against a minor, the court could deny both custody and visitation, while still requiring that parent to pay child support.read more

Halloween/Trick-or-Treating Custody Agreements

Halloween is a time of joy for children. When co-parenting, both parents usually want to be included in the festivities. Unlike Christmas, Thanksgiving, and other major holidays, Halloween may be left out of the parenting plan. Advance planning can make it possible for everyone to enjoy Halloween and trick-or-treating.read more

How To Best Co-Parent With Someone Who Is Bipolar

Bipolar disorder is a very complex mental illness that can have serious effects on a person’s everyday life. Mood swings are prevalent, and can often make the person extremely unpredictable and volatile.

If you have concerns regarding co-parenting with somebody who is suffering from bipolar disorder, it is wise to seek the advice of an attorney to create a situation that benefits everyone.read more

Co-Parenting With An Addict

The pressures and worries of co-parenting can be scary enough. However, throw addiction into the mix, and you have the recipe for a highly stressful situation. An addict’s habits can have a major impact on those around them, including their children. Your first instinct might be to try and prevent the addicted parent from seeing the children, but that can raise concerns about damaging the child’s relationship with a parent.read more