child custody Archives - Mendes Weed, LLP

Child Custody and Visitation – Spring Custodial Schedule

https://youtu.be/VBSv5EVe4XY

Spring is right around the corner and summer is not far behind that. It’s not too late to think about who will have the kids during these vacation periods.

Avoiding conflict in front of the children is very important, so you need to plan ahead. Lisa and Christina talk about how to go about dealing with these child custody and visitation issues.

Disclaimer: The tips and materials provided on this page are for informational purposes only, offered as public service. No information on this website should be considered legal advice or used as a substitute for legal advice. For legal advice, you should contact an attorney directly.

Christina Weed - Taxation Law Specialist

How to Survive Holiday Custody Schedule Planning & Keeping Your Children’s Best Interest at Heart

Child Custody

The holidays are a very difficult time for many, especially if you are going through or have recently gone through a divorce. Meal planning, holiday festivities, and visits from family and friends add to the challenges of everyday life.

Reduce the stress on you, your child/ children, and your relationship with your partner during this time of year by creating a clear and specific custody arrangement.

A lawyer who specializes in child custody arrangements can help you create a fair and equitable holiday or birthday schedule. It is never too late to plan one, and the results of having one may offer you peace of mind and the ability to plan in advance.

Consider These Factors when Drawing Up a Holiday Custody Arrangement

Keep a calendar of holiday schedules to keep everyone on track.
Consider dividing school vacations and alternating years for a clear custody routine. On even-numbered years, one parent gets custody of the children for vacation; on odd-numbered years, custody switches to the other parent.
Write specific times and locations for pick up and drop off.
Plan more vacation time during holidays and summer for the parent who does not have primary custody.
Create a colorful calendar for your child/children so they know the schedule. Consider marking the days with one parent in one color and the days with the other parent in another color.
Consult a family law attorney to make sure all wording is clear, explicit, and legally binding.

At the end of the day, your decisions on custody should be based on the decision that is best for your child/children. It’s easy to get caught up in the emotions of such a huge change in family life but every decision should be based on creating the most stable and healthy environment for your offspring.

Consult Mendes Weed, LLP for Holiday Schedule Assistance

Mendes Weed, LLP has experience in child custody matters and can help ensure that your parental rights are protected and respected. If you would like more information about creating or editing a holiday custody arrangement, contact us.

Disclaimer: The tips and materials provided in this email are for informational purposes only, offered as public service. No information in this email should be considered legal advice or used as a substitute for legal advice. For legal advice, you should contact an attorney directly.

Considering a Modification in Custody? Be Realistic about Your Expectations and the Needs of Your Child or Children

Child Support

Modifications to a custody agreement make sense as the ages and needs of your children change. What might have been appropriate for a child at 2 may no longer make sense now that the child is a teenager.

Likewise, changes to a parent’s job or living situation may also create the need to modify your custody agreement.

Courts take modifications seriously. If you want to be successful in making modifications to your current child custody orders, it may be best to contact an experienced family law attorney in Danville or Walnut Creek.

Factors to Keep in Mind When Asking the Court to Modify Your Custody Orders

In California, the court likes to have both parents equally involved in the children’s lives. Unless a parent is unfit, the best interest of the child/children is served when both parents get as close to the same amount of time with the children as possible.
As children age, it’s not uncommon for them to want to spend more time at one parent’s house than another. The courts may take this into account when you ask for a modification, but they still want both parents involved. Consider ways to satisfy the child’s desires and needs and have the other parent still involved.
Asking for a change in custody based upon the desires of the child/ren is not necessarily going to cause a change of custody. Family court takes the child’s age and reasons for wanting to change custody into serious consideration. While courts do tend to listen to the wants and needs of children 14 years of age and older, their primary objective is to have constant contact with both parents on an equal basis.
In the case one of the parent’s needs to alter visitation due to job change or a change in residence, consider ways the parent can see the child outside of working hours. Spending more days in the summer, on weekends, or during holidays may benefit all parties.
The request to modify is not quick. If you ask for a modification and the other parent objects, the courts will need to set a time for a trial. Simply getting a day on the calendar can be complicated as both attorneys and the court must be available.

The Impact of a Custody Modification on the Child/Children

Whatever your reason for a change in custody, courts will emphasize the needs of the children over the parents. Stability and consistency are two factors that kids will thrive on, as well as the unconditional love from two equally involved parents.

Considering Mendes Weed, LLP if you Need a Family Law Attorney

Custody changes can be an emotional and challenging time for all parties. When parents can’t agree to modify the current custody plan on their own, it’s in your best interest to consult with a Family Law attorney who has experiences representing you in Family Court.

If you need help or want advice, contact Mendes Weed, LLP. Or visit our website for more information about Family Law.