Child Custody in California

In general, California child custody cases are determined through the courts based on what is considered to be in the best interests of the child. This is a rather general term; judges considering the matter may look at a number of different factors which will play a part in their determination. These factors include such considerations as the age of the child, the desires of the parents, the quality of the relationship each parent has with the child, health conditions, both physical and mental, of each parent and the child, each parent's willingness to help foster the child's relationship with the other parent, which parent has acted as the main care provider of the child, each parent's ability to provide a stable home environment, what each parent's living arrangements may be, how locked in the child may be to the present school, community or neighborhood, the child's wishes or preferences if old enough to have a reasonable opinion, what repercussions there will be on the child by being in the custody of one or the other parent, how the child may be affected if current custody arrangements are changed, how fit as parents each parent is in responding to the child's emotional and physical needs, whether either parent has a confirmed history of domestic violence, child abuse, drug or alcohol abuse, or whether false accusations concerning such abuse have been made by one parent in an attempt to gain leverage over the other.

As evidenced from the above factors, child custody decisions can be complicated. For those who are involved in a pending divorce or facing post-divorce child custody legal actions, having a highly-qualified and experienced attorney can be an invaluable asset in getting your side of the story communicated, in protecting your legal rights, and in bringing about a decision that is, in the end, in the best interests of your child.

Orange County Family Lawyer

If you are located anywhere in Orange County, California, you are fortunate in having the option of having your child custody or other family law case handled by the Law Offices of Marc E. Mitzner. Mr. Mitzner has 15 years of practicing divorce and family law in the local courts throughout Orange County; as an experienced attorney, he has developed practical solutions based on daily dealings with all types of family law cases, from the simplest to the most heated and complex. His firm has grown significantly over the years due to the many referrals of satisfied clients whom he has helped with effective representation.