Riverside Child Custody Lawyer
Child custody disputes can occur in a variety of situations, but they also involve a great deal of emotion and stress for all parties involved, including the child or children. The fear of losing custody of a child can be overwhelming and distressing. Whether you are facing a child custody battle in the context of a divorce, a paternity action, the dissolution of a domestic partnership, or a post-divorce modification, these proceedings can be legally complex and take an emotional toll on you. In these situations, you must take all necessary steps to protect your rights, as well as those of your child or children. It is at times like these that a Riverside child custody lawyer can help.
When you find yourself in the midst of a child custody dispute, you may not know what to do first. This is why the advice of the Riverside child custody attorneys of Milligan, Beswick, Levine & Knox LLP can be essential to success in your child custody matter. Our lawyers will assist you in gathering all of the necessary information and evidence in support of your case, identifying and preparing witnesses to testify on your behalf, participating in child custody evaluations, and working with other professionals and experts as needed.
Proving the Best Interest of the Child
As is the case in most jurisdictions, California courts use the “best interest of the child” standard in making decisions about child custody. Many different factors can go into the determination of what is best for a child, such as the age of the child, the medical and educational needs of the child, the financial circumstances of each parent, the living situation of each parent, the child’s relationship with other siblings, and other similar factors. Each Riverside custody case is unique, and therefore, the skills and experience of your Milligan, Beswick, Levine & Knox LLP attorney will be instrumental in determining the best strategy to achieve a favorable result.
Understanding Custody Types
California law provides for different types of custody and custody arrangements, which can vary widely depending on a couple’s circumstances, including the physical distance between the parents and the age of the child or children involved. Physical custody typically refers to the primary physical residence of the child, or where the child lives most of the time. In some cases, parents can share joint physical custody, or in other cases, one parent will be awarded sole physical custody. Only your Riverside child custody lawyer can help you completely understand all of the potential physical custody arrangements that may be available to you in your unique situation.
Legal custody, on the other hand, is the right of a parent to participate in major decisions related to the child’s upbringing. These decisions might involve education, medical care, and religious affiliation. If parents can effectively work together to make these decisions, then joint legal custody often is awarded. However, if parents are unable to successfully communicate and work together, or if one parent is deemed unfit to make decisions on behalf of the child, then one parent may be awarded sole legal custody.
Contact Your Riverside Child Custody Attorney Today
The law firm of Milligan, Beswick, Levine & Knox LLP prides itself on providing its clients with the highest quality representation in all child custody matters. With years of experience in protecting the rights of parents and their children in custody proceedings, your Riverside child custody attorneys stand ready to provide you with the assistance that you need in this difficult situation. Contact us now to see how we can help.