San Diego Family Law Blog
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.
Protecting Your Child’s Inheritance in a Divorce
A divorce involving children can be difficult on its own, even without thinking about financial matters. In some cases, you may have family heirlooms or property you want to save for your child. Or, if your child is the result of another relationship, you may worry that anything you set aside for them will be considered marital property. However, there are ways to ensure your child’s right to inheritance is not violated in a divorce.
Planning Visitation for Teenagers
Parenting a teenager can be challenging in the best of situations, but divorced parents are presented with a unique set of issues. Arranging visitation time can be difficult, since your child will likely be focusing on friends, sports, love, and growing up instead of spending time with their parents. But that doesn’t mean there are not a variety of strategies and practices that can help preserve your relationship with your child.
When Should You Request a Bifurcation Divorce?
Facing the prospect of a divorce is never pleasant – but it can become even more emotionally trying when the divorce has many issues to resolve. Thankfully, you have an option called a “bifurcation divorce.” The word “bifurcation” means to split or divide. It essentially “splits” the issue of marital status (or other matter) off from the other matters in a divorce, allowing you to be granted single status while the other matters are negotiated or litigated separately.
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.
Six Signs of Divorce
No one hopes that a marriage will fail – but they do. You may be trying your best to keep your relationship together for the sake of your children, or because you once had a great marriage and you are hoping that with counseling or pure persistence, you can still make it work. In fact, some marriages are doomed for failure, and according to psychological experts, there are six signs that a divorce is on the horizon.
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
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
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
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