The Law Office of ATTORNEY PRACTICE

Mansouri Law Offices
9601 Wilshire Blvd., Suit 630
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Phone
310.271.2600
310.271.2291

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Child custody is often the most contentious issue that divorcing parents face. California law encourages joint legal custody arrangements, which gives both parents the right and responsibility to make decisions regarding the children’s future. The court also determines physical custody, generally giving one parent primary physical custody and the other parent, secondary custody. At Mansouri Law Offices, we work closely with our clients to ensure that the court is presented with all the relevant facts pertaining to their children’s living situation so that the court can make an informed ruling on the custody question. 

The policy of the State of California is for each parent to have “frequent and continuing contact” with BOTH parents, so long as such contact is in the best interests of the minor children.  Therefore, whenever possible, the Courts will attempt to devise a joint custody parenting plan wherein the child has substantial time with each parent.

However, in certain situations (i.e., criminal history, drug/alcohol use, or poor parenting), the court may assign primary physical custody to one parent, and grant the other parent reasonable visitation.  This may also be the case where the parents do not live close enough to make a joint custody parenting plan feasible. 

Before parents can address the issues of custody and visitation of their minor children, there must be an underlying action. If the parents are married, either the mother or the father must first file an action requesting a dissolution of marriage, legal separation, nullity or file the petition for custody and support of minor children's action. If the parents are unmarried, either the mother or the father must file an action to establish the parental relationship or file the petition for custody and support of minor children.

Often the most critical part of a divorce proceeding, our attorneys have extensive experience helping families quickly come to resolution in this highly sensitive matter. The Court looks at the best interest of the children when rendering their decision on child custody.