San Diego Family Law Blog
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
Guide to Visitation Arrangements
Though the San Diego family court tries to split custody between divorcing parents as equally as it can, sometimes, one parent will get primary physical custody. That means the non-custodial parent will receive one of these four types of visitation arrangements. If you have questions about your custody arrangement, please contact Mattis Law, A.P.C., at (858) 328-4400.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
Your Legal Responsibility to Pay Spousal Support
In California, if you have been court-ordered to pay spousal support, you must continue paying in full until you receive a change order signed by a judge. This is true regardless of changes in your financial situation or any verbal agreements you have made with your former spouse or partner.read more
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