This article will discuss issues relating to child custody and visitation in California and comments are provided by an attorney from Natalia V. Jeffs, Attorney at Law.

1. Divorce: Child Custody and Visitation

3. In a divorce where a child or children are present the most common issue parents get stuck on is
custody. Child custody disputes are stressful on the clients, attorneys, judges and most importantly
the children themselves. In severely damaged relationships between spouses, the child usually
suffers the most from the parents’ continual battles. In such battles there are disputes over time
share, legal and physical custody. This article will discuss issues relating to child custody and
visitation in California. An attorney and spokeswoman from Natalia V. Jeffs, Attorney at Law
provided comments.
In respect of child custody, they are two types of custody:
Legal custody - which refers to the right to make important decisions about the child’s
welfare including health, education and religious activities. The court may order joint legal
custody, where both parents have equal rights to make these decisions or the court may order sole
legal custody where only one parent has the right to make all or some of these decisions.
Physical custody - this is where the child lives and who will be responsible for child’s daily
care. The court can order joint physical custody among both parents or sole physical custody to
one parent.
In respect of the custody types, the attorney stated that “it must not be assumed that because a
court has awarded joint legal custody that it will automatically order joint physical
custody. While California laws favors joint physical and legal custody, the court determines all
aspects of custody based on the child’s best interests and on two guiding policies set out in
California law; the first policy is that the health, safety and welfare of the child is the primary
concern of the court and second is the child’s benefiting from frequent and continuous contact with
both parents.”

4. Parents who agreed can have their own custody and visitation arrangements, if they
are willing to cooperate and compromise. Often, parents can and do work out their
own custody and visitation agreements. When the parents reach an agreement
outside court, the agreement must be put in writing and submitted to a judge for
review. If approved by the judge the custody agreement becomes a court order and
must be followed by both parents. However, where parents are not in agreement, the
attorney stated, “it is required by law that the parents try mediation before going to a
judge to decide on child custody. In mediation, a mediator, who is a neutral third
party trained for working with divorcing couples, meets with the parents to help them
identify issues and find ways to reach an agreement. If successful and the parents
agree on the custody arrangements and the judge signs the agreement and it
becomes a court order. However, if the mediation is unsuccessful then the parents will
have to attend a hearing where the judge will decide on the child custody”.
If a parent has questions with regards to child custody and support, mediation and
child custody and support hearings it is recommended to seek legal advice from an El
Dorado County child support attorney from a renowned law firm.

5. About Natalia V. Jeffs, Attorney at Law
Natalia V. Jeffs, Attorney at Law is a law firm or professionals who specialize in divorce
and family law matters. The founder of the law office, Ms. Jeffs, has over eighteen
years’ experience in divorce law. For family law in El Dorado County contact the
Natalia V. Jeffs, Attorney at Law.
Source :- http://www.openpr.com/news/554887/Divorce-Child-Custody-and-
Visitation.html