Southern California Child Custody Attorneys

Changing Your Custody Arrangements

Sometimes, the child custody arrangements you made the first time stop working. Most often, that's because of a normal change in circumstances for you, your child or the other parent. Custody orders may also need to be modified in some cases where one parent interferes with the other parent's custody or visitation rights. If you need help changing your custody order, Wallin & Klarich can help.

California law recognizes that circumstances change as people move on and children grow older. Either parent can petition the court for a modification of a custody order that no longer works. In order to have such a petition granted in California, however, you must be able to show that there's been a substantial change in your circumstances. Some changes that may result in a granted petition include:

• Changes in the child's school or other routine activities.
• A new job for one parent that makes parenting harder.
• Military deployment.
• Evidence that the other parent's home is a dangerous environment. (This can include allegations of substance abuse, violence, neglect, criminal behavior and sexual abuse -- but you must be able to prove these allegations by a preponderance of the evidence at the hearing.)
• The other parent refusing to cooperate with you when it comes to decisions as as to the health, education and welfare of your child.
• An out-of-area move by one parent. More on this below.

Wallin & Klarich can help you petition the court formally for a change in custody. We also help parents fight unwelcome or unreasonable requests to modify custody. Uncontested petitions to change custody are routinely granted and won't require much time or work from you. But if the petition to change custody is contested by the other parent, you will likely end up in a court hearing.

REQUESTS TO MOVE AWAY

One custody change that frequently stirs up bad feelings is a move out of the area by a custodial or joint-custody parent. This can result in a contested court hearing, especially if one parent believes the other is making the move to interfere with custody or visitation. In order to stop an out-of-area move in California, the other parent must be able to show evidence that the move is not in the child's best interests. This evidence could include evidence that the other parent is moving in order to deny visitation or custody to you. It also can include that the move will negatively impact the minors schooling, relationship with his family members or remove him from a loving and stable environment. If the other parent isn't fighting the move, but both parents want to change the custody plan, the parent who is moving must petition the court for a change. Those petitions are routinely granted.

If you need help changing a custody order -- or stopping a change -- you should call the family law legal team at Wallin & Klarich. Wallin and Klarich helped our clients with family members for over twenty years. We understand the law on child custody, and we understand the judges and courts that will hear your case, because we work with them on a regular basis. We have offices throughout Southern California where you can come visit us to discuss your case.

Due to the fact that we realize that child custody fights can be stressful and unpleasant, we're committed to being available to answer questions whenever you need us -- 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year. We promise prompt and courteous answers to your questions, no matter when they come.

For a free phone consultation with an experienced Southern California family lawyer, call Wallin & Klarich today at 1-888-290-5379 or fill out our confidential online case evaluation form.

If you're facing a child custody matter, you need an experienced, effective family lawyer on your side -- like the expert Southern California family law attorneys at Wallin & Klarich. Whether you need an hour in our offices or full representation in court, we're committed to helping your family get the best possible outcome to custody disputes. For a free consultation with Wallin & Klarich family law attorneys, call us today at 1-888-290-5379 or fill out our confidential case evaluation form online. We'll be here for you, whenever you call.