Practice areas · Custody

Child custody & parenting plans

The first priority in any family case is simple: the kids know where they're going. Abby builds custody arrangements that work for real routines, and she fights for them when she has to.

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What to know about custody in California

Best interest of the child

Courts decide custody based on the child's health, safety and welfare, not on what's fair to the parents.

Two kinds of custody

Legal custody covers decisions about health and education. Physical custody covers where the child lives. Each can be joint or sole.

Mediation comes first

When parents disagree, California requires them to meet with a court mediator before a judge decides.

Orders can change

Custody and visitation can be modified when circumstances change.

How Abby approaches custody

  1. 1

    Stabilize

    A clear interim schedule right away, so the kids aren't caught in uncertainty while everything else gets sorted.

  2. 2

    Gather

    School, activities, each parent's work schedule, and what each child actually needs.

  3. 3

    Resolve

    A parenting plan both parents can live with. Court, when a parent won't put the kids first.

Common questions

Does my child get a say?

Courts can consider a child's preference when the child is old enough to form one. How much weight it gets depends on age and maturity. Abby can explain how that works for your family.

My co-parent wants to move away with our child. What now?

Move-away cases turn on specific facts and move quickly. Talk to a lawyer before agreeing to anything or responding in writing.

Our parenting plan isn't working. Can we change it?

Yes. Parents can agree to changes, or ask the court to modify an order when circumstances have changed.