Child Custody Lawyer With Workable Strategies
When a household gets divided, it isn’t easy for anyone. Everyone in the family has to adapt to new schedules. The kids have to adjust to going back and forth between two houses, while the parents adjust to only parenting part of the time. Meanwhile, everyone is grieving the loss of their former family unit. Choosing an experienced child custody lawyer can make a big difference in the outcome of your case.
My name is Sunena Sabharwal. I founded Sabharwal Law Offices to provide legal support and advice to families navigating divorce and child custody issues in Berkeley and the surrounding East Bay communities. The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization offers official certification for attorneys who complete a rigorous set of requirements. These attorneys are the only ones who can legally advertise themselves as specialists, and their specialized knowledge and experience provide a significant benefit to their clients. As a certified family law specialist who has over 30 years of experience, I can help you find workable solutions for your child custody challenges.
What Are The Types Of Custody That The Court Has To Decide In California?
A family law case that involves your children can be among the most difficult legal challenges you could ever face. In any child custody case, there are two types of custody that must be decided:
- Legal custody: Legal custody identifies which parent has the right to make important decisions about your child’s life. This includes decisions about their education and health care. It also includes decisions about religion. Legal custody can be awarded as sole custody to one parent or as joint custody to both parents.
- Physical custody: Physical custody identifies where your child will live. Physical custody can also be sole, where the child lives with one parent most of the time. It could also be joint, where the child spends significant time living with both parents. In joint physical custody, the time spent with each parent does not have to be equal but should be substantial enough to ensure a continuous relationship with both parents.
An experienced child custody lawyer can help you understand more about physical and legal custody in California. Child custody mediation can help you negotiate a child custody agreement that is appropriate for your family.
What Does The Court Consider When Deciding Custody?
When deciding custody in a divorce proceeding or paternity action, the court has a lot of discretion. Child custody decisions are based on what is in the best interests of the child. Here are some of the factors the court will consider when determining child custody arrangements:
- The health, safety and welfare of the child
- The child’s age
- The emotional ties between the child and each parent
- The ability of each parent to care for the child
- Any history of family violence or substance abuse
- The child’s ties to their home, school and community
- The child’s preference, if they are old enough to express one
Because the court has a lot of discretion, it is important to choose an experienced attorney who you can trust to guide you through the process. I believe that when both parties work together to decide child custody arrangements and visitation rights, they can create a functioning parenting plan that will give everyone the best chances of moving forward from the divorce.
Reaching A Child Custody Agreement Amid Conflict
Child custody disputes are filled with emotion and can easily become adversarial. I believe that while it is natural and human to want to fight about it, every case is best approached with a level head and comprehensive view of the different options available to you and your family.
By working together, I want to help you lay the groundwork for solutions that will stand the test of time. What matters to you today is important, but it is equally important to consider what happens in two, five or 10 years from now – after the emotional stress of a divorce has subsided.
Consult A Child Custody Lawyer Today
It is important to have an experienced attorney advocating on your behalf. It’s even better when that attorney is a certified family law specialist. The family law courts have a great deal of discretion when deciding child custody issues. I can be your voice through the conflict and help you stay focused on building your future.
To schedule an appointment to ask questions or discuss next steps, contact my office by calling 510-665-8777 or sending a message through my website. Initial appointments are free and confidential.