Need Help With Child Custody in Los Angeles?

When you’re facing child custody decisions, your children’s well-being is your top priority. The Law Offices of Seth C. Bowen understands that custody matters are among the most emotionally challenging aspects of family law. The firm provides knowledgeable, compassionate representation to help you pursue custody arrangements that serve your children’s best interests while protecting your parental rights.

Whether you’re dealing with an initial custody determination during divorce, seeking to modify an existing arrangement, or facing a custody dispute, the firm has the experience to guide you through the legal process. The Law Offices of Seth C. Bowen serve families throughout Los Angeles and surrounding communities.

Child Custody Lawyers Who Put Your Children First

The Law Offices of Seth C. Bowen approach every custody case with the understanding that your relationship with your children is irreplaceable. The firm works to develop custody solutions that provide stability for your children while preserving meaningful time with both parents when appropriate.

From negotiating parenting plans to representing you in custody hearings, you’ll receive personalized attention and strategic advocacy. The firm keeps you informed throughout the process and helps you make decisions based on what’s truly important for your family’s future.

Understanding Child Custody in California

California recognizes two types of custody: legal custody and physical custody. Understanding these distinctions helps you know what you’re pursuing in your case.

Legal Custody

Legal custody refers to the right to make important decisions about your child’s life, including:

• Education and schooling choices
• Healthcare and medical treatment
• Religious upbringing
• Extracurricular activities
• Where the child lives

Legal custody can be joint (shared by both parents) or sole (held by one parent). California courts generally favor joint legal custody, unless there are compelling reasons to the contrary.

Physical Custody

Physical custody determines where your child resides and the amount of time they spend with each parent. Physical custody can also be joint or sole.

Joint physical custody doesn’t necessarily mean equal time. It means both parents have significant periods of time with the child. The specific schedule depends on what works for your family and serves your children’s needs.

What Factors Do California Courts Consider in Custody Decisions?

California law requires judges to base custody decisions on the best interests of the child. Courts evaluate numerous factors, including:

• The child’s health, safety, and welfare
• Any history of abuse or domestic violence
• The nature and amount of contact with both parents
• Habitual or continual substance abuse by either parent
• Each parent’s ability to care for the child
• The child’s connection to home, school, and community
• The child’s preference (if age-appropriate)
• Each parent’s willingness to support the child’s relationship with the other parent

The court’s focus remains on what arrangement serves the child’s best interests, not what punishes or rewards either parent.

Types of Child Custody Arrangements

California custody arrangements can take many forms. The Law Offices of Seth C. Bowen helps you pursue the arrangement that works for your family.

Joint Physical Custody

Both parents have significant time with the child. This could mean an equal 50/50 split or another schedule that gives both parents substantial parenting time.

Common joint custody schedules include:

• Week on/week off
• 2-2-3 schedule (two days with one parent, two days with the other, three days alternating)
• 2-2-5-5 schedule
• School week with one parent, weekends with the other
• Alternating weeks with a midweek visit

Sole Physical Custody

The child primarily lives with one parent, while the other parent typically has visitation rights. This arrangement may be appropriate when:

• Parents live far apart
• One parent’s work schedule makes shared custody impractical
• There are safety concerns about one parent
• The child has special needs best met in one home

Sole Legal Custody

One parent has the right to make major decisions about the child’s upbringing. Courts typically award sole legal custody only when:

• There’s a history of domestic violence
• One parent is absent or uninvolved
• Parents cannot communicate or cooperate on decisions
• One parent has serious substance abuse or mental health issues

Joint Legal Custody

Both parents share decision-making responsibility for major issues affecting the child. This requires parents to communicate and cooperate, but doesn’t mean they must agree on everything. When parents disagree, they may need to return to court or use mediation.

Creating Effective Parenting Plans

A parenting plan outlines the specific details of custody and visitation. Comprehensive parenting plans help prevent future disputes by addressing:

Regular Schedule

• Where the child lives during the school year
• Weekend arrangements
• Weekday time with the non-custodial parent
• Transportation arrangements

Holidays and Special Occasions

• Major holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.)
• School breaks and summer vacation
• Birthdays
• Mother’s Day and Father’s Day
• Religious holidays

Communication

• Phone or video calls with the other parent
• How parents will communicate about the child
• How to handle schedule changes
• Emergency communication protocols

Decision Making

• Which decisions require joint agreement
• How disagreements will be resolved
• Who has final say on specific issues

Other Important Provisions

• Right of first refusal for childcare
• Travel with the child
• Introduction of new partners to the child
• Attendance at the child’s activities and events
• Access to school and medical records

The Law Offices of Seth C. Bowen helps you develop detailed parenting plans that anticipate common issues and provide clear guidance for co-parenting.

Child Custody Disputes and Litigation

When parents cannot agree on custody arrangements, the court will make decisions after hearing evidence from both sides. The Law Offices of Seth C. Bowen provides strong representation in custody litigation.

The firm prepares your case by:

• Gathering evidence that supports your position
• Interviewing witnesses who can speak to your parenting
• Documenting your involvement in your child’s life
• Preparing you for testimony
• Responding to allegations from the other parent
• Presenting compelling arguments to the court

In some cases, the court may appoint a custody evaluator to investigate and make recommendations. The firm helps you work with evaluators and address any concerns they identify.

Custody Modifications

Custody orders aren’t necessarily permanent. When circumstances change significantly, you can seek modification of custody arrangements.

Common reasons for custody modifications include:

• One parent relocating
• Changes in a parent’s work schedule
• A parent’s remarriage or new relationship
• Concerns about a child’s safety or well-being
• The child’s changing needs as they grow older
• One parent’s failure to follow the existing order
• Substance abuse or criminal activity by a parent

To modify custody, you must show a substantial change in circumstances and that the modification serves the child’s best interests. The Law Offices of Seth C. Bowen can evaluate whether you have grounds for modification and guide you through the legal process.

Move-Away Cases

When a parent with primary custody wants to move a significant distance away, special rules apply. Move-away cases can be particularly complex because they affect the other parent’s ability to maintain their relationship with the child.

The court balances multiple factors:

• The reason for the proposed move
• The distance and impact on visitation
• The child’s age and relationship with both parents
• The child’s ties to the current location (school, friends, extended family)
• Whether the move is in good faith or intended to interfere with the other parent’s relationship
• The feasibility of modified visitation arrangements

The Law Offices of Seth C. Bowen represents parents on both sides of move-away disputes, whether you’re seeking permission to relocate or opposing a proposed move.

Custody and Domestic Violence

If there’s a history of domestic violence, child custody decisions take this very seriously. California law requires courts to consider domestic violence when determining custody and visitation.

If a parent has been convicted of domestic violence within the past five years, there’s a rebuttable presumption that giving that parent custody would be detrimental to the child. The parent who committed domestic violence must overcome this presumption to obtain custody.

If you’ve experienced domestic violence, the Law Offices of Seth C. Bowen can help you pursue protective measures, including:

• Restraining orders
• Supervised visitation for the other parent
• Safety provisions in custody orders
• Sole legal and physical custody

If you’ve been falsely accused of domestic violence, the firm will defend your parental rights and work to present the truth to the court.

Grandparents and Third-Party Custody Rights

While parents generally have priority in custody matters, California law recognizes that grandparents and other parties may sometimes have standing to seek custody or visitation.

Grandparents may petition for custody when:

• The parents are deceased, unavailable, or unfit
• The child’s welfare requires it
• The child has been living with the grandparents

The Law Offices of Seth C. Bowen represents grandparents seeking to protect their grandchildren and parents defending against third-party custody claims.

Custody Evaluations

In contested custody cases, courts sometimes order custody evaluations. A mental health professional evaluates both parents, interviews the child, and makes recommendations to the court about custody arrangements.

Custody evaluations typically include:

• Interviews with both parents
• Interviews with the child
• Home visits
• Review of relevant documents
• Psychological testing, if needed
• Interviews with third parties (teachers, doctors, etc.)
• Observation of parent-child interaction

The Law Offices of Seth C. Bowen prepares you for custody evaluations and helps you address any concerns raised in the evaluator’s report.

Co-Parenting After Custody Is Determined

The goal of custody arrangements is to support your child’s healthy development and relationships with both parents. Effective co-parenting requires:

• Putting your child’s needs first
• Following the custody order and parenting plan
• Maintaining respectful communication with your co-parent
• Being flexible when appropriate
• Not involving your child in parental conflicts
• Supporting your child’s relationship with the other parent
• Staying engaged in your child’s education and activities

The Law Offices of Seth C. Bowen helps you understand your obligations under custody orders and can assist when the other parent isn’t following the agreed-upon arrangement.

Custody Mediation

California requires parents to attempt mediation before going to court on custody disputes. In mediation, a neutral third party helps parents communicate and try to reach agreements about custody and visitation.

Benefits of successful mediation include:

• Less stress for children
• Lower costs than litigation
• Faster resolution
• More control over the outcome
• Improved co-parenting communication

The Law Offices of Seth C. Bowen can represent you during mediation or help you prepare for the process.

How the Law Offices of Seth C. Bowen Approaches Custody Cases

The firm’s approach to custody cases focuses on:

• Child-Centered Representation

• • • Every decision considers what’s truly in your children’s best interests while protecting your parental rights.

• Strategic Advocacy

• • • The firm develops legal strategies based on your unique circumstances and what you want to achieve.

• Thorough Preparation

• • • Whether negotiating or litigating, the firm prepares your case thoroughly to present the strongest possible position.

• Clear Communication

• • • You’ll understand what’s happening in your case, what to expect next, and what decisions you need to make.

• Protecting Parental Rights

• • The firm fights to preserve your relationship with your children and your role in their lives.

Common Custody Mistakes to Avoid

Custody cases can be won or lost based on your actions during the process. Avoid these common mistakes:

• Speaking negatively about the other parent to your child
• Interfering with the other parent’s visitation time
• Making major decisions without consulting the other parent when you share legal custody
• Violating court orders
• Using your child as a messenger
• Discussing the custody case with your child
• Introducing new romantic partners too quickly
• Failing to document your involvement in your child’s life
• Being inflexible about reasonable schedule changes
• Allowing anger toward your ex to affect your judgment

Why Choose the Law Offices of Seth C. Bowen for Custody Matters

When your relationship with your children is at stake, you need representation you can trust. The Law Offices of Seth C. Bowen offers:

• Compassionate understanding of the emotional difficulty of custody cases
• Knowledge of California custody law
• Experience with Los Angeles County family courts
• Strategic thinking about how to achieve your custody goals
• Personalized attention to your unique situation
• Strong advocacy, whether negotiating or litigating
• Focus on practical solutions that work for families

The firm serves clients throughout Los Angeles and the surrounding areas.

Schedule Your Free Consultation

If you’re facing a child custody matter, don’t wait to get legal guidance. Early consultation helps you understand your rights and make strategic decisions about your case.

The Law Offices of Seth C. Bowen offers free consultations to discuss custody concerns. During your consultation, you’ll receive straightforward information about custody law, what to expect in your case, and how the firm can help protect your parental rights.

Call (805) 222-6766 or visit https://sethbowenlaw.com/ to schedule your free consultation today.

Office: 19318 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 102, Tarzana, CA 91356

Frequently Asked Questions About Child Custody

• Can my child choose which parent to live with?

• • • California courts will consider a child’s preference if the child is mature enough to express a reasoned opinion. However, the child’s preference is just one factor courts consider, not the deciding factor.

• What if the other parent is denying me visitation?

• • • If the other parent violates a custody order by denying your court-ordered visitation, you can file a motion to enforce the order. Don’t withhold child support in response, as that creates a separate legal problem.

• Can I modify custody without going back to court?

• • • If both parents agree to changes, you can modify your arrangement informally. However, only court-ordered modifications are legally enforceable. It’s wise to formalize any significant changes through the court.

• How does custody work if we were never married?

• • • If parents weren’t married, paternity must be established before custody can be determined. Once paternity is established, custody follows the same rules as for married parents.

• What’s the difference between custody and visitation?

• • • Custody refers to where the child lives and who makes major decisions. Visitation refers to the time the non-custodial parent spends with the child. However, California often uses the term “parenting time” instead of visitation.

• Can I get sole custody?

• • Sole custody is possible but requires showing that joint custody wouldn’t serve the child’s best interests. Courts prefer arrangements that maintain both parents’ involvement when safe and appropriate.

Contact the Law Offices of Seth C. Bowen

Protect your relationship with your children. Get the legal representation you need for your custody matter.

Call (805) 222-6766 for your free consultation today.