{"id":3566,"date":"2021-12-08T09:00:57","date_gmt":"2021-12-08T17:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/provencherandflatt.com\/?p=3566"},"modified":"2023-09-21T01:55:41","modified_gmt":"2023-09-21T08:55:41","slug":"california-childrens-custody-101","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/provencherandflatt.com\/california-childrens-custody-101\/","title":{"rendered":"Children\u2019s Custody 101: Rules on California Parenting Duties"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_California_Parents_Should_Know\"><\/span><strong>What California Parents Should Know<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-662ac3ea478ef\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-662ac3ea478ef\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/provencherandflatt.com\/california-childrens-custody-101\/#What_California_Parents_Should_Know\" title=\"What California Parents Should Know\">What California Parents Should Know<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/provencherandflatt.com\/california-childrens-custody-101\/#What_is_child_custody\" title=\"What is child custody?\">What is child custody?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/provencherandflatt.com\/california-childrens-custody-101\/#What_are_the_types_of_custody_orders\" title=\"What are the types of custody orders?\">What are the types of custody orders?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/provencherandflatt.com\/california-childrens-custody-101\/#Legal_Custody\" title=\"Legal Custody\u00a0\">Legal Custody\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/provencherandflatt.com\/california-childrens-custody-101\/#Physical_Custody\" title=\"Physical Custody\">Physical Custody<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/provencherandflatt.com\/california-childrens-custody-101\/#Visitation_Rights\" title=\"Visitation Rights\">Visitation Rights<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/provencherandflatt.com\/california-childrens-custody-101\/#Supervised_Parenting_Time\" title=\"Supervised Parenting Time\">Supervised Parenting Time<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/provencherandflatt.com\/california-childrens-custody-101\/#Do_Not_Lose_Custody_Over_Your_Children\" title=\"Do Not Lose Custody Over Your Children\">Do Not Lose Custody Over Your Children<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/provencherandflatt.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/childrens-custody.webp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3567\" title=\"children's custody\" src=\"https:\/\/provencherandflatt.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/childrens-custody.webp\" alt=\"children's custody\" width=\"701\" height=\"468\" srcset=\"https:\/\/provencherandflatt.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/childrens-custody.webp 1024w, https:\/\/provencherandflatt.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/childrens-custody-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/provencherandflatt.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/childrens-custody-768x513.webp 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 701px) 100vw, 701px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the major considerations &#8211; and arguably the most stressful &#8211; when dealing with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/provencherandflatt.com\/divorce\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">an ongoing separation or divorce <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">or dealing with the aftermath of one is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/provencherandflatt.com\/family-law\/child-custody\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">children\u2019s custody.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> On top of the troubles and pressures of breaking up and ending a relationship with a significant other is sorting out the affairs of the children, too.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/provencherandflatt.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get the best ally in ensuring the welfare and protection of your children<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in a custody battle by hiring competent lawyers that are specifically trained and experienced in family law. <a href=\"\/about-provencher-and-flatt\/\">Embolden Law PC<\/a> Attorneys-at-Law in Santa Rosa, California can provide you with the legal guidance and representation in getting the best custody arrangement for your children.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meantime, learn about the types of custody arrangements available in California and the custody laws that apply when divorcing parents don\u2019t agree.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_child_custody\"><\/span><strong>What is child custody?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Child custody refers to the care, control, and maintenance of a child, which a court may award to one of or both parents following a divorce or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/provencherandflatt.com\/legal-separation\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">separation proceeding.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Getting child custody gains the ability to make decisions on the child\u2019s upbringing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Visitation, on the other hand, refers to the time each parent will spend with their children.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Parents have the inherent right to make all the decisions regarding their biological children if they are married. Legal complications only arise if the parents are unmarried or have split. Based on the law, the family courts can determine custody should parents disagree on custody or even intervene when government officials think that a parent is not physically or mentally fit to raise the child.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In California, a child\u2019s custody may be awarded to either parent or shared by both parents. A mediator from Family Court Services meets the parents to discuss children\u2019s custody. Should parents disagree on the custody arrangement, the judge determines custody and visitation. However, preference is always given to an agreed parenting plan by both parents.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When there are no children involved and the former couple has no disagreements regarding property distribution, divorce may be entered into without an attorney or what is known as a \u201cpro se divorce.\u201d However, when children are involved, having a lawyer is important.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Custody cases can run for months in court and could take a huge emotional toll on former spouses and their children. Resolving such cases swiftly could shield your child from escalating tensions and how your lawyer takes on your case is a crucial factor in getting such an outcome.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_types_of_custody_orders\"><\/span><strong>What are the types of custody orders?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are two types of custody orders: legal custody and physical custody.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Legal_Custody\"><\/span><em><b>Legal Custody\u00a0<\/b><\/em><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Legal Custody is the right to make important decisions about the child\u2019s upbringing, education, and health and wellness. These decisions include participation in religious activities, choice of schools, and medical care (except in emergencies).<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><em><b>Joint Legal Custody<\/b><\/em><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the California Family Code, both parents will share the right and the responsibility to make important decisions such as the child\u2019s upbringing, education, and health and wellness in joint legal custody.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having joint legal custody, however, does not automatically mean that both parents also have joint physical custody. More on joint physical custody later.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><em><b>Sole Legal Custody<\/b><\/em><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In sole legal custody, the family court has decided to give custody to only one parent. This parent will have the rights and responsibilities to make all important decisions relating to the child\u2019s welfare, education, and health. In this case, the other parent need not be consulted or taken into consideration on matters involving the child.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Awarding joint legal custody is quite common in California. However, courts typically award sole legal custody when one parent is found unfit, when parents are totally ineffectual in making decisions together or when sole legal custody is in the child\u2019s best interests.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is also important to note that having sole legal custody does not automatically mean that the parent also has sole physical custody.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Physical_Custody\"><\/span><em><b>Physical Custody<\/b><\/em><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Following the parent\u2019s divorce, separation, or annulment of marriage, the child will live with the parent awarded primary physical custody by the family court. This parent is called the custodial or residential parent. The other parent is referred to as the noncustodial or nonresidential parent. The parent not awarded with physical custody is typically granted visitation rights.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The child\u2019s best interest is the primary consideration in the decision to award physical custody and visitation rights. Parents with a record of domestic violence and abuse will not be granted physical custody and may be ordered with supervised visits or supervised parenting time.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><em><b>Joint Physical Custody<\/b><\/em><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When both parents have been awarded equal or close to equal periods of physical custody, this means that the parents have joint physical custody.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><em><b>Sole Physical Custody<\/b><\/em><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In sole physical custody, the child primarily lives with one parent while the other parent needs the authority of the court for visitation rights.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Visitation_Rights\"><\/span><em><b>Visitation Rights<\/b><\/em><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If one parent is awarded sole physical custody, the other parent will usually have <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/provencherandflatt.com\/family-law\/child-visitation\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">visitation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> rights so as to ensure that the child will still have adequate time and bond with the noncustodial parent. In extreme cases when the other parent has a record of abuse, they are not awarded any visitation rights at all.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A court-approved visitation schedule may involve overnight visits on alternating weekends, splitting school vacations between both parents, and extended summer visitations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Moreover, the visitation schedule will also spell out the locations and times of child pick-up and drop-off, including which parent will provide transportation. Again, the courts will prefer a visitation schedule agreed upon by both parents so as to consider the personal and work schedule of both parties.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Supervised_Parenting_Time\"><\/span><em><b>Supervised Parenting Time<\/b><\/em><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A supervised parenting time is awarded to a noncustodial parent with a history of domestic violence, abuse, a record of absence, and\/or neglect. Supervised visits most often take place in court-approved locations instead of the noncustodial parent\u2019s home and will involve a visitation supervisor assigned by the court.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other stipulations may be imposed by the family court depending on the circumstances. A parent with a record of drug use and abuse may be required to undergo treatment and meetings prior to the approval of unsupervised visitation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_Not_Lose_Custody_Over_Your_Children\"><\/span><strong>Do Not Lose Custody Over Your Children<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Undergoing the divorce process or <a href=\"\/how-long-is-a-legal-separation-good-for\/\">getting a legal separation<\/a> is already stressful enough. Losing a partner or spouse is inevitable in a divorce, separation, or annulment. Do not lose custody of your children, too! Child custody is a complicated legal process. Don\u2019t hire just any attorney. Seek legal help from someone who is <a href=\"\/family-law-resource\/\">familiar with the intricacies of California family law<\/a> to guide you in filing for child custody.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/provencherandflatt.com\/contact\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contact Santa Rosa law firm, Embolden Law PC <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, at <strong><a href=\"tel:7075966641\">707-284-2378<\/a><\/strong>. Our dedicated Santa Rosa child custody lawyers will evaluate your case based on your unique circumstances.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our Embolden Law PC family law attorneys are also experienced in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/provencherandflatt.com\/family-law\/child-support\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">child support<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and visitation cases, divorce, legal separation, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/provencherandflatt.com\/family-law\/alimony\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">alimony<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> cases.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Schedule your appointment today.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What California Parents Should Know One of the major considerations &ndash; and arguably the most stressful &ndash; when dealing with an ongoing separation or divorce or dealing with the aftermath of one is children&rsquo;s custody. On top of the troubles and pressures of breaking up and ending a relationship with a significant other is sorting [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3567,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[44],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/provencherandflatt.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3566"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/provencherandflatt.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/provencherandflatt.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/provencherandflatt.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/provencherandflatt.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3566"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/provencherandflatt.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3566\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3717,"href":"https:\/\/provencherandflatt.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3566\/revisions\/3717"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/provencherandflatt.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3567"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/provencherandflatt.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3566"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/provencherandflatt.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3566"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/provencherandflatt.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3566"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}