Child Custody & Visitation Dedicated to The Practice of Family Law at The Highest Level

Napa and Marin County Child Custody & Visitation Lawyers

Family Law Specialists & Team Serving Parents in Marin County, CA

Child custody issues can be among the most emotionally demanding aspects of divorce and family law. Every parent wants to ensure the well-being and happiness of their children, but disagreements can arise over the best way to achieve these goals.

Worries can surface over how custody will affect your relationship with your child(ren). Anxiety, loss, and resentment based on the end of your marriage can cloud reason in making fair and viable arrangements. The stress can be compounded by having to deal with the issue through the court system and the profound impact an outcome can have on the future of your parent-child relationship.

At Vance & Wills P.C., our compassionate attorneys understand the emotional toll this matter can take. We provide sound advice based on our extensive professional knowledge gained over decades of resolving even the most complex and contentious cases in family courts.

Our team understands how the courts evaluate custody based on the individual circumstances of each family’s situation. We work diligently to guide you through the legal process as painlessly as possible. Our mission is to help you achieve an optimum result within the court’s overarching policy of serving the child’s best interests.

Book a confidential consultation with a Napa and Marin County child custody and visitation attorney at Vance & Wills P.C. by phone at (707) 251-1221. You can also email us using our online contact form to make an appointment.

Types of Custody in California

In California, the law delineates two primary types of custody:

Legal: This determines who makes important decisions about a child's welfare, such as education, medical care, and religious upbringing. Parents can share legal custody (joint legal custody), or one parent can have sole legal custody.
Physical: This addresses with whom the child will live. Similar to legal custody, physical custody can be joint or sole, with arrangements varying widely to suit the family's needs.

Parents are encouraged to reach their own custody arrangements outside of court by emphasizing cooperation, open communication, and a focus on the child's best interests. Through collaborative custody, parents can create arrangements that respect the needs and routines of children while accommodating each parent's schedule and capabilities. Once these arrangements are formalized into a parenting plan, it can be submitted to the court for approval.

Parenting Plans in California Child Custody

A well-structured parenting plan in California custody cases covers crucial components to make arrangements clear and prioritize the child's best interests.

These components generally include:

Custody and visitation schedules: Clearly outlines the regular schedule for where and when the child will be with each parent, including weekdays, weekends, and any special arrangements.
Decision-making responsibilities: Specifies which parent is responsible for making significant decisions regarding the child's education, healthcare, and religious upbringing or outlines a joint decision-making process.
Communication guidelines: Establishes rules for how parents will communicate about the child, including preferred methods of communication and frequency. This may include guidelines for sharing important information about the child's well-being.
Holiday and vacation arrangements: This section details how holidays, birthdays, and school vacations will be handled, including who the child will spend time with and how any travel will be arranged and communicated.
Dispute resolution procedures: Outlines parents' steps to resolve disagreements, such as mediation or counseling, before seeking court intervention.

The parenting plan should be crafted with the child's best interests in mind, providing a stable framework that both parents can follow to minimize conflict and meet the child’s needs.

What Happens When Parents Cannot Reach a Custody Agreement?

Mediation plays a pivotal role in facilitating custody agreements. It offers a neutral platform for parents to discuss their differences and find common ground with the guidance of an impartial mediator. California mandates that parents who cannot agree on custody matters participate in mediation before the case proceeds to court.

How Courts Decide on Custody in Napa and Marin County

If parents cannot agree through mediation and court intervention becomes necessary, the court will consider several factors to determine custody.

These can include:

The child's health, safety, and welfare
Nature and quality of the parent-child relationship
Each parent's ability to provide a stable and nurturing environment
History of family violence or abuse
Any substance abuse issues
The child's preferences, if they are of suitable age and maturity
Each parent's willingness to support the child's relationship with the other parent
The emotional ties between the child and each parent
The child's adjustment to home, school, and community; school choice can significantly affect custody decisions

Relocations in Custody Cases

When a parent wishes to relocate with a child to a distant city or state, they must request to do so through the court. This request can significantly impact custody arrangements and the child's relationship with the non-moving parent. Legal considerations include the necessity of the move, its impact on the child's well-being, and the feasibility of maintaining meaningful contact between the child and the non-moving parent.

Courts evaluate these requests by focusing on the reason for the move, the benefits to the child, the potential disruption to the child's stability, and how the move aligns with the child's best interests. Courts aim to balance the moving parent's right to relocate with the child's need for stable, ongoing relationships.

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How Vance & Wills P.C. Can Help in Napa and Marin County Custody Cases

Our team provides exceptional representation in all matters related to child custody, including helping you reach collaborative custody arrangements, negotiating with your co-parent or their attorney, drafting comprehensive parenting plans, and resolving high-conflict situations or relocations.

We work to handle every aspect of your custody case with care and precision, protecting your parental interests and your child’s best interests. We offer personalized strategies to achieve a fair and beneficial resolution for your family.

Call (707) 251-1221 or contact us online to discuss your case with a Napa and Marin County child custody and visitation attorney.

Why Choose Vance & Wills P.C.?

Professional, Compassionate, and Proven

Trial-Tested Representation

When settlement is not possible, your family law matter must be resolved through a contested court hearing or trial. We are highly qualified trial attorneys who will expertly guide you through a contested proceeding if it becomes necessary.
AAML Fellowship

As Fellows of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, the firm’s partners are recognized for their commitment to excellence in family law and are held to the highest professional standards.
Thoughtful Guidance

Each family law matter has a unique set of personalities and interpersonal dynamics. We leverage our experience and emotional intelligence to help our clients navigate through the emotional nuances of divorce or other difficult family law matters.
Proven Track Record

Our firm is recognized by former clients and other family law professionals for providing high quality family law services that produce favorable outcomes for our clients.

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