Our child custody attorneys use their decades of experience in family law to reach amicable resolutions for both parties involved in child custody cases. We strive to protect your child’s best interests while taking all your goals into consideration. At Hatherley Law, your family is our top priority. We will work diligently to come up with a solution that provides your child with the most benefits. For more information about how a child custody attorney in Visalia, CA, can help, please contact our office today.
Types of Child Custody
Depending on the agreed or court-ordered custody arrangement, there are several different aspects of child custody.
Physical vs. Legal
Parents may share physical custody of a child, meaning the child splits his or her time between each parent. Even if there is joint physical custody, sole legal custody can be granted to just one parent. Legal custody leaves one or both parents in charge of making decisions regarding the child’s education, healthcare, and other matters.
At Hatherley Law, our focus is protecting your child and acting in their best interests. We strive to achieve cooperation between parents and develop an amicable resolution.
Sole vs. Joint
A parent may be granted sole legal and physical custody. This means that the child lives with that parent full time and that parent makes all legal decisions for the child. Parents may share both physical and legal custody or just physical custody. This is referred to as joint custody.
Determining Custody
The courts look at all aspects of the child-parent relationship when determining custody. Although most courts prefer some form of joint custody, as having a relationship with both parents is usually in the child’s best interest, that is not always the case. To determine custody, the court will speak with both parents, the child, and other important adults in the child’s life.
A parent with a criminal background, history of substance abuse, or violent tendencies will be at a disadvantage. The court may request both parents receive a psychological evaluation to determine their mental fitness. The court can use all of this information to create a custody agreement that is in the child’s best interests.
The courts look at all aspects of the child-parent relationship when determining custody.
Parenting Plans
If a court grants joint physical custody, often referred to as time-sharing, the parents or the court must develop a parenting plan. This plan will outline:
- How each parent will communicate with the child and with one another
- Which parent will be responsible for providing the child with health care
- The time-sharing schedule for the child
- Which parent’s address will be used for the purposes of school registration
Parents can work together to develop a parenting plan, which the court can later approve. If they cannot agree, the court may develop a parenting plan for the parents to follow.
How Our Child Custody Attorneys can Help
At Hatherley Law, our focus is on protecting your child and acting in their best interests. We strive to achieve cooperation between parents and develop an amicable resolution. We are prepared to handle all your child custody needs now and as your family’s needs change in the future.
Meet with an Attorney from Hatherley Law
If you are facing a child custody battle, make sure you have an experienced attorney on your side. Contact Hatherley Law today to schedule a meeting with a member of our legal team.
