Child Custody | San Diego Family Law Blog - Part 8
How California Determines Child Custody
Your relationship is at an end. So who will get the final say in decisions made about your children? How will the judge decide who your children live with, and spend their time with? Mattis Law, A.P.C., has compiled helpful information about your children’s rights, as well as your parental rights, when it comes to determining custody in San Diego. read more
Start Your Custody Planning Well Before the Holidays
It’s only August, but trust us—if you share a child with an ex, the time to begin planning the holiday custody schedule is now. Mattis Law, A.P.C. has seen many families undergo extra stress around what should be the most joyful time of the year. To that end, we want to remind you which holidays are coming and give you some tips for making a strong visitation schedule that will hold up if challenged in San Diego Family Court!read more
Will I Have to Have a Psychological Evaluation to Get Custody?
When parents cannot agree on a child custody arrangement, family courts will often order a psychological evaluation to help them determine which custodial arrangement is in the best interests of the child. In such cases, child custody evaluators are used to conduct the evaluation process. These evaluators use psychological testing, interviews, and assessments to determine the fitness of each parent seeking custody. There is some question as to the accuracy and validity of these evaluations on which child custody orders may be based.read more
Can Being LGBTQ Affect Your Child Custody Battle?
Over the past decade in California, LGBTQ parents have gained many rights not enjoyed by those in other states. Although the system is still not perfect, strides have been made to protect the rights of LGBTQ parents who have raised a child from birth or through adoption. California Supreme Court rulings have granted LGBTQ parents the same rights heterosexual parents enjoy in the areas of child custody, visitation, and child support.read more
Parental Alienation – Bribery
It is devastating to have your relationship with your child damaged by the other parent or have them cause “parental alienation” between you and your children. When a parent continuously makes disparaging remarks about you to your child, it can destroy one of life’s most treasured relationships. The courts do not look kindly upon parents who are found to be actively working to turn a child against the other parent. read more
The 730 Evaluation: How Can it Affect Child Custody?
A 730 Evaluation is an assessment performed by a court-appointed expert to assist in providing information and recommendations to the court regarding issues needing mediation. These expert evaluations are described in California Evidence Code 730. 730 evaluations are useful to the court in cases in which child custody is in dispute. read more
Alleging Abuse in a Custody Dispute
There are cases of real and significant abuse by parents against children. Abusive parents, in many cases, should not have unsupervised contact with their children. However, sometimes, parents may become so desperate that they’ll say anything in order to get custody of their children. Needless to say, this is not a good or helpful thing to do. It may even backfire.read more
Shared Custody Involving Older Teenagers
Teenagers are challenging to deal with at the best of times. When child custody of an older teenager is shared, new issues arise. Older teenagers focus on their individual freedoms, their plans for college, work, and social lives. Parents who share custody of an older teenager are well-served to plan living arrangements around the child’s schedule and to be open to changes in plans.
The Common Pitfalls of Co-Parenting
Divorce is supposed to be the hard part.
But co-parenting can be worse, if one of the parents is actively or passively trying to sabotage the other.read more
Child Custody Schedules During a Quarantine
California is currently under a quarantine order as required by the Governor’s office, which has limited travel to essential services and put restrictions on public gatherings. Families are all dealing with effects in different ways, from homeschooling children to avoiding any outdoor or recreational activities. However, for divorced or separated parents, there are many questions about child custody plans and if they are allowed to transfer their child between households.