Huntington Beach Child Custody Lawyer2023-12-13T11:27:30+00:00

Divorce cases involve a variety of complicated and emotional family issues, but few are more contentious than child custody. As a parent, you want to ensure your child receives the best possible care regardless of the relationship you share with their other parent. Thus, any divorce order you obtain must accurately reflect their best interests now. If you and your coparent are on amicable terms, you can work together to create a fair parenting plan and have it approved by a judge. If the other parent is unwilling to communicate or negotiate the terms of an agreement, a family court judge will make the final decision about child custody and visitation.

Divorces become significantly more complex when children are involved. This equates to a more expensive and time-consuming case and can also negatively impact your ability to effectively coparent after your divorce is finalized. The only way to protect your rights and achieve the best outcome for your family is to retain legal representation from a Huntington Beach child custody lawyer.

Why You Should Choose the Dorie A. Rogers

At the Dorie A. Rogers, we have decades of experience handling challenging custody issues and can represent you at every stage of the legal process. From the first consultation, we take time to get to know your family, discuss your concerns, answer your questions, and determine your goals. Making life-altering decisions can be overwhelming, particularly when your children’s futures are at stake. Our team provides the compassionate, dedicated counsel you need during a challenging time. We can explore every avenue for resolving your case outside of the courtroom and help you draft a custody agreement that protects your child’s best interests. If negotiations are impossible, we can build a compelling case for custody and persuade the court to rule in your favor.

Although you are not required to hire a family law lawyer for child custody, a Huntington beach child custody lawyer can be a powerful advocate. Divorce laws can be incredibly confusing, and making minor mistakes during filing or at your hearing can drastically affect your case. Legal representation is crucial to ensure your parental rights are protected, make the court process more efficient, and secure a stronger chance at achieving the outcome you want.

How a Huntington Beach Child Custody Lawyer Can Help

The Dorie A. Rogers can handle every aspect of your case, including:

  • Accurately preparing court documents, such as petitions and pre-trial orders.
  • Filing them with the appropriate entities at the correct time.
  • Facilitating negotiation between you and your co-parent through mediation.
  • Resolving issues to draft a fair parenting plan so you can reach an agreement out of court.
  • Helping you argue for legal and/or physical custody if your case goes to trial.
  • Gathering documentary evidence and personal character references to support your claim.
  • Hiring experts to provide authoritative information about your case, such as psychologists, counselors, teachers, or social workers.
  • Determining whether your child is mature enough to express their own preferences.
  • Emphasizing your co-parent’s inability or unwillingness to care for your child or allow you to maintain a relationship with them.
  • Showing that your co-parent is unfit due to a history of abuse, neglect, substance use, poor parenting behavior, or other actions that negatively impact your child’s well-being.
  • Fighting against false claims your co-parent makes about you.
  • Enforcing your custody and visitation rights through contempt of court action if your co-parent violates the child custody order.
  • Modifying your custody order to accommodate changing needs and circumstances.

Child Custody FAQs

Q: What determines who gets custody of a child?

A: Judges grant custody based on the best interests of the child. They take several factors into account when making this determination, including:

  • The child’s age and health
  • The child’s ties to their home, school, or community
  • The nature and amount of contact the child has with each parent
  • The quality of relationship between the child and each parent
  • The ability and willingness of each parent to provide appropriate care for the child
  • Whether either parent has a history of abusive behavior against the other parent or child
  • Whether either parent has a history of illegally using controlled substances, prescribed medications, or alcohol
  • The child’s preference if they are 14 years old or older and mature enough to express their opinion

Q: How do you prove a parent is unfit?

A: If you believe the presence of the other parent in your child’s life would be detrimental to their well-being or place them at risk, you can pursue sole custody. A lawyer for custody must support your claim with clear factual evidence. Evidence of unfit parenting includes information about the parent’s lifestyle, behavior, parenting practices, and history of perpetrating physical, emotional, or sexual abuse against the child.

Q: Do men ever get custody?

A: California law explicitly states that custody cannot be granted to a parent because of their sex. Ideally, both parents should have meaningful relationships with their child, and judges make custody determinations based on the child’s best interests. This involves minimizing disruption in the child’s life, so judges typically consider how the parents shared responsibilities for raising the child before separating and whether maintaining the same arrangement would be in the child’s best interests.

Q: Who has more rights, the mother or the father?

A: Many people mistakenly assume that mothers have more parental rights than fathers. However, according to California law, both parents have equal rights and responsibilities to care for their children. If the child’s father is not married to the mother at the time of the child’s birth and is not listed on the birth certificate, he must prove paternity before pursuing child custody or visitation. Fathers can prove paternity by taking a DNA test or obtaining a family court order that establishes legal parentage. At this time, he may also benefit from hiring a lawyer for child support.

Secure Your Family Law Legal Group

If you are filing for divorce in Huntington Beach, the decisions you make now will impact your child’s life for years to come. Hiring a Huntington Beach child custody lawyer and family law attorney can make all the difference in your case. Whether your co-parent is willing to negotiate a parenting plan in mediation or you are forced to litigate your case in court, we can help. The Dorie A. Rogers provides the legal counsel you need to achieve a favorable resolution in your case. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you.

Reviews Quotes
“Dorie is a very powerful attorney and a great asset to have on your side in any family legal matter. She is extremely bright and insightful, and I got everything I asked for in my lawsuit.”
Brit B.
“I would strongly recommend Ms. Dorie Rogers for any legal needs. During my Divorce proceedings, Dorie’s professionalism, expertise in Divorce Law and legal skill helped bring my case to a close in both a timely and mutually agreeable manner.

Additionally, Dorie took the time to understand me and my background to better represent me in my case. She showed a level of caring and concern that helped me through a very difficult time. She is an outstanding lawyer and wonderful person.”

Alan M. Greenberg
“Second to none – I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Dorie to anyone. She was my attorney for my divorce and custody case. She will do everything it takes to get the job done and all with a smile on her face. Her knowledge and expertise will assist anyone in a family law situation get the results they want.”
Todd M.

Blog

Go to Top