Fighting for sole custody of your child with the other parent is never easy. There’s a lot of back and forth that will occur for months as the battle rages. Having an experienced Westlake Village sole custody attorney represent you during the process can make things a little easier to deal with as you work to secure sole custody of your child. There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes that the Law Offices of Ronald K. Stitch can assist you with during the legal battle.
Reasons the Court Will Award Sole Custody
There are some reasons why the court will automatically award sole custody to a parent without that parent having to prove why they deserve sole custody. Those reasons include the following:
- The other parent has made false allegations of abuse
- The other parent has committed child abuse
- The other parent has committed domestic abuse
- The other parent emotionally abuses the child
- The other parent has a substance abuse issue that they have ignored
- The other parent has never cared for the child
- The other parent is a flight risk
What Does the Court Look For in a Sole Custody Case
To convince the courts in California to award sole custody, you will need to prove that it is in the child’s best interests. While this can be highly vague, you can prove certain things to the court to make the ruling favor you.
If you can show the California family law court that you have spent 90 percent of the time with the child, providing the majority of care, the court will lean in that direction when ruling. If the child is 14 or older, the court might ask your child who he or she prefers to live with moving forward. The judge might not go with this request but will strongly consider it.
How a Lawyer Can Help in Your Quest for Sole Custody
When you decide it’s time to seek sole custody of your child in California, working with an experienced family law attorney is in your best interest. The investment will be worth it for the sheer knowledge of the law and the know-how of the family law courts the attorney has. Below, you will find some signs that it’s time to hire a family law attorney:
- The other parent has hired a lawyer
- The other parent prevents you from seeing the child
- You have a fear that your child is in danger
- You are unfamiliar with family law
- The other parent has changed their mind when it comes to a custody agreement
Call a Westlake Village Sole Custody Attorney Today
Do you have questions about obtaining sole custody of your child in California? If so, it’s time to speak with an experienced and trusted Westlake Village sole custody attorney from the Law Offices of Ronald K. Stitch. Call our office at (818) 707-0202 or complete the contact form online to schedule a consultation today.
