Orange County Child Custody Attorney

In the state of California there are several types of custody that may be awarded in a child custody case. The type of custody awarded will depend on specific factors, including whether or not the custody arrangement is in the “best interests of the child”. A parent will need to prove that they can provide for a child both financially and emotionally. Physical, legal custody and/or joint custody will then need to be decided either between the parents outside of court, or by a family law judge.

Types of Child Custody in Orange County, California

The following are the different types of custody that can be agreed upon or arranged by the courts:

Physical Custody

This type of custody determines who the child will live with. In some instances it can be awarded to both parents as joint physical custody, if it is determined that both parents spend a large amount of time with the child. Joint physical custody is best when parents live nearby so that the child can maintain the same routine that they had prior to the divorce.

Legal Custody

When a parent is awarded legal custody then they have the right to make the important legal decisions regarding the child’s life. These legal decisions may include: what type of education the child will receive, the type of medical care the child may or may not receive, and religious affiliation and activities, along with many other legal choices. Legal custody may be awarded to both parents as joint legal custody if it is determined that both parents are capable of communicating and sharing in the decision-making process despite any differences that they may have.

Joint Custody (also known as shared custody)

Joint custody can be awarded between parents if they share in the physical and/or legal custody of the child. Joint custody is the type of custody that the family law courts most often look to award as it can be extremely beneficial to the child.

Sole Custody

If a parent has drug or alcohol dependency, mental issues or is unfit to care or make decisions for a child, sole custody may be awarded to the other parent. It can be awarded as sole legal custody or sole physical custody. Most likely, a parent will be awarded both. The parent who does not receive custody will then generally have supervised visitation as determined by the courts, until they can prove that they are no longer unfit to care or make decisions for their child.

Orange County Custody Lawyer

As an experienced and skilled Orange County child custody attorney I am very knowledgeable with the family court system and your parental rights. I can help prove your case to the courts in order to achieve a favorable outcome for your child custody case. I understand that child custody disputes can be very upsetting, to say the least, and I will do my very best to provide you with the reassurance that your case is in good hands. As a family law lawyer, I represent parents throughout Orange County and Riverside County including Orange, Santa Ana, Irvine, Anaheim, Yorba Linda, Newport Beach, La Habra and Anaheim Hills.

Please contact my firm today so I can review the circumstances of your case and determine what legal action can be taken on your behalf.

Questions about the different types of custody? Contact us today!