Child Custody Lawyer in Ventura, California

Regardless of whether you’re fighting to hold onto custody of your children or want to prevent your child from spending time with a harmful parent, it can help greatly to obtain the assistance of a Ventura child custody attorney. At Land Legal Group, our attorneys have the experience necessary to help navigate complex child custody issues. We focus on assisting clients with even the most difficult cases to make sure that their case receives the best possible outcome for them as well as their children.

Who Receives Child Custody after Ventura Divorces

In Ventura as well as the rest of California, both parents have the right to be present as well as involved in a child’s life. While this is fairly straightforward while parents are married, this can become much more complex when parents get divorced.

Experienced Legal Assistance in Ventura Child Custody Cases

Child custody is one of the most emotionally charged elements of divorce. Having a seasoned California family lawyer on your side can help to resolve child custody disputes.

Even though California family law courts are supposed to make child custody decisions in the best interests of the children, this is not always the result of these cases. Family law judges in California can only make decisions based on the evidence in front of them. Unfortunately, however, the evidence does not always tell the whole story. If you end up in a child custody dispute, you should make sure to obtain the assistance of a lawyer who will examine your case and present the necessary facts to the judge.

In most situations, countless factors will end up influencing the outcome of your child custody case. Factors like domestic abuse, drug use, and mental health can end up influencing child custody cases. If any of these factors are involved with your divorce or child custody case, you should make sure to adequately document matters.

The divorce attorneys at Land Legal Group have been involved in countless child custody cases. We understand how to effectively communicate to the judge using the available evidence as well as our comprehensive knowledge of California child custody laws.

Our legal team also understands that your children are your biggest priority, which is why we take every child custody case personally. Our experienced lawyers take every step necessary to make sure we minimize your stress as much as possible.

Types of Visitation in California

In California, custody is rarely split 50/50 among parents. Instead, custody is often much more complex. One parent often ends up spending a greater amount of time with the child than the other parent. This can be due to concerns over abuse or simply because one parent has moved out of state.

The parent who is awarded a larger amount of physical custody is known as the “custodial” parent, while the parent awarded less time is referred to as the “non-custodial” parent. “Visitation” refers to how much time the non-custodial parent spends with the child. In California, visitation is often divided in one of the following ways:

• No visitation. Some courts take the perspective that letting a parent have any physical contact with the child is harmful. No visitation might be necessary if a parent has a history of drug or physical abuse.
• Scheduled visitation. When parents address custody decisions on their own, they often have to create a visitation schedule that addresses how much time the child will spend with each parent.
• Supervised visitation. If a court believes that a non-custodial parent presents a threat to a child, the judge might order supervised visitation. Visits of this type mean that the non-custodial parent will not be alone with the child and that instead, a third party will always be present.
• Reasonable visitation. If parents are on good terms, they might agree to a more flexible visitation arrangement. In these situations, there are no specific times when one parent has the child. Rather, visitation times change based on everyone’s schedule.

The “Frequent and Continuing” Standard in California Child Custody Cases

California law takes the perspective that it’s often best for children to stay in “frequent and continuing” contact with both parents following divorce. Consequently, parents are advised to create custody arrangements that let children spend quality time with both parents. In deciding on the terms of child custody schedules, however, judges also weigh another important standard referred to as the “best interest of the child”.

What the Best Interest of the Child Means in California Child Custody Cases

Child custody arrangements in California must depict a situation that is in the best interest of the children who are involved. Family courts review a variety of factors (found in California Family Code Section 3011) when deciding what’s in a child’s best interest. Some of these factors include:

• Each parent’s history of abuse and domestic violence
• Each parent’s mental health and psychological fitness
• Each parent’s use of controlled substances and alcohol
• The frequency of contact between the child and both parents
• The safety and well-being of the child

Courts also take the child’s age and health into consideration as well as the child’s connection to school and the community. In some situations, the child’s stated preference will also be given weight.

After granting child custody rights, courts sometimes decide to revoke or substantially reduce a parent’s custodial rights if factors present the threat of harm to a child. Evidence in these situations need not be overwhelming, but rather a California family law judge will consider whether a parent receiving custody would be a detriment to the child or children as well as whether or not granting custody to the parent is in the child’s best interest.

At Land Legal Group, our family law firm in Ventura, CA also focuses on the following practice areas:

• Divorce
• Same-Sex Divorce
• Paternity
• Prenuptial Agreement
• Grandparents Rights
• Fathers Rights
• Domestic Violence
• Spousal Support
• Children’s Law
• Child Support
• Dependency Law

Contact Our Experienced Ventura Child Custody Attorneys Today For an initial consultation

Deciding on the terms of a child custody agreement can be overwhelming, particularly during argumentative divorces. Obtaining the assistance of a skilled attorney who has the skill necessary to navigate complex issues can make a substantial difference in the outcome of your case. At Land Legal Group, our attorneys understand the complex issues that are involved and will remain dedicated to making sure that your case resolves in the best possible manner. Contact our Ventura family law attorneys today by calling (805) 696-2160 to schedule a case evaluation.