Santa Ana Child Custody Lawyer

Santa Ana Child Custody attorney

Family law cases pertaining to the contentious topic of child custody can be emotionally challenging and stressful for all involved. The right thing to do is hire a Santa Ana child custody lawyer who can deliver you high-level counsel and representation and fiercely advocate for your parental rights. At Minyard Morris (formed over 48 years ago), we understand how difficult these situations can be and how you want to do what is best for your child. Our team can fight for your parental rights.

The process of child custody in California is often the most uncertain and frightening aspect of a divorce case. You can always work to regain lost assets in the property division, but it is difficult to win back time lost with your child. For this reason, our team of seasoned family law attorneys can come alongside you to offer fierce legal representation and advocacy to keep your parental rights intact and find solutions that can fit your needs and the needs of your children.

Defining Child Custody in Santa Ana, California

When seeking child custody in Santa Ana, California, it is vital that you understand the two forms this custody can take. The outcome of your child custody case has the ability to impact your life and the lives of your children for years to come so it is essential you are equipped with all the knowledge of what legal options may be available to you. The two main forms of child custody in California include:

• Physical custody. This form of custody refers to the time the children will be living with each parent. This can depend on many factors, such as where the child attends school, how much time each parent has to dedicate to spending with their child, and any other factors the courts may decide are relevant to their decision. There are two subtypes of physical custody in California, including:
  • Joint physical custody. In this scenario, the child will split their time between the parents. This split may not be perfectly equal, but it will be decided on by the courts to meet the needs of the children.
  • Sole physical custody. In some cases, the courts may award sole physical custody to one parent over the other for a variety of reasons. One, it may make more sense to have the child live solely with one parent. However, certain issues such as substance abuse problems or domestic violence may cause one parent to lose out on their chances for physical custody.
• Legal custody. This form of custody refers to the parent’s right to decide what their child’s health, religious upbringing, and education should be. For example, a parent with legal custody is allowed to make a determination on what school the child might attend or what religious services they should attend. The two subtypes of legal custody are:
  • Joint legal custody. This form of custody lets both parents make the decisions as they pertain to the life of the child. The location of the parents does not matter as much in this form of custody as it does in physical custody, as the proximity of the parent to the child does not matter as much, and decisions can be made from any location.
  • Sole legal custody. This form of custody occurs when one of the parents retains the right to make decisions regarding their child. This can occur when the other parent is found to have a drug or alcohol problem or has been convicted of domestic violence.

Minyard Morris: Fighting for Your Parental Rights

In a child custody battle, it is wise for you to seek experienced and highly skilled representation. At Minyard Morris, our team of attorneys have over 350 years of collective experience and are ready to put that to the task of representing you and your interests and fighting for your parental rights. We are passionate about only offering the greatest counsel and representation in the Santa Ana area and can guide you through the divorce and child custody process.

We can also ensure that you have a solid understanding of all California custody laws and how they impact your situation, can negotiate with your co-parent and their legal team to reach an agreement on custody terms outside of court, can help create parenting plans and custody arrangements and defend your interests in a custody hearing.

We believe that superior legal service starts with creating proactive strategies so that you can be ready for whatever the custody process throws your way. We are committed to securing for you a favorable outcome that lines up with your goals and desires.

FAQs

Q: What Will a Child Custody Lawyer Cost?

A: It is challenging to come up with an exact amount as to what a child custody lawyer will charge in California because there are several elements involved that can affect the overall cost of hiring an attorney. These elements include the duration and complexity of the case as well as the experience of your attorney.

Q: Can Domestic Violence Allegations Impact a Child Custody Case?

A: Yes, domestic violence allegations can impact a child custody case in California. The courts take these allegations very seriously, and if one parent is found to be abusive, their chances of retaining child custody can dwindle. Likewise, if there is a personal protective order in place, the restrained individual will likely not receive custody or visitation rights unless those visitations are supervised.

Q: Who Pays Attorney Fees in Child Custody Cases?

A: In California, if you are the lower-earning parent, you may be able to request the courts order your higher-earning co-parent to pay for the fees of your attorney during the custody battle. In making their determination, the judge considers many factors, such as your income and needs, the income of your co-parent, and whether one of you has higher access to resources.

Q: How to Protect Your Child’s Emotional Well-Being in a Child Custody Case?

A: There are many ways to protect and prioritize your child’s emotional well-being in a child custody case. You can prioritize communication with your children, avoid making negative comments about your co-parent to your child or in front of them, do everything possible to maintain a stable routine, and seek the professional support of a therapist if needed.

Talk to a Top-Tier Family Law Firm Today

If you find yourself facing a child custody battle in Santa Ana, California, the team at Minyard Morris is here for you. Contact our offices today to schedule a consultation and learn more about how we can be of service to you and help protect your parental rights.