San Francisco Child Custody Lawyers
If you and your spouse have children, you will need to come to a child custody arrangement during the divorce process. Determining the terms of child custody is one of the most emotionally tumultuous aspects of the divorce process, as both parents usually don’t want to give up custody and the right to spend time with their child. You both have an idea of how you want custody to be arranged, but you may not agree on the arrangement. During the divorce process, it’s a good idea to hire an attorney who can represent you in court or in mediation, and express your wishes in regards to the custody of your children. By hiring a San Francisco child custody attorney to represent you during the divorce process, you can rest assured knowing that your parental rights are being fought for and protected.
Determining Child Custody
The court gives parents the opportunity to come to a child custody arrangement on their own. However, if the parents of a child are unable to mutually come to a custody arrangement, the court will intervene. Above all else, the judge will chose a custody arrangement based on what’s in the best interest of the child. After taking into account the child’s best interest, the judge will weigh in other factors, such as:
- Each parent’s financial resources
- Each parent’s lifestyle
- Each parent’s mental stability
- Each parent’s physical health
- Each parent’s willingness and capability of caring for the child
- The child’s relationship to each parent
- The child’s current lifestyle and routine
- The child’s preference (if above a certain age)
After taking all these factors into consideration, the judge will grant custody to either one or both parents. When possible, the courts prefer to grant physical and legal custody to both parents, since it’s important for a child to have a relationship with both the mother and the father. However, if one parent is unfit to care for the child, the judge will award custody to just one parent.
Child Custody Arrangements
There are basically four types of custody:
- Sole Physical Custody-the child resides with one parent 100% of the time. In cases where one parent is granted sole physical custody, the other parent is usually granted visitation rights.
- Joint Physical Custody-the child resides with both parents. The amount of time the child resides with each parent may or may not be equal.
- Sole Legal Custody- only one parent has the right to make legal decisions on behalf of the child.
- Joint Legal Custody-both parents are awarded the right to make legal decisions of behalf of the child.
Contact a San Francisco Child Custody Attorney
If you are fighting for the custody of your children, we can help. Our San Francisco child custody lawyers can represent you during the child custody hearings, and explain to the judge why it’s your child’s best interest to remain in your custody. During the divorce process, we can ensure your rights as a parent are not violated, and that the court or mediator acknowledges, respects, and upholds your wishes in regards to a child custody arrangement. We know how much you cherish your relationship with your children, and we are committed to doing whatever we can to preserve that relationship. For us, nothing is more important than helping you reach a custody arrangement that meets your needs and serves the best interest of you and your children!
Contact a San Francisco child custody lawyer today!