Parental alienation is a growing concern in California family courts—especially in high-conflict custody cases. When one parent intentionally undermines the child’s relationship with the other, the long-term emotional harm can be significant. In Stanislaus County, family courts have tools available to address this behavior and protect the best interests of the child. At Scott Mitchell…
When you’re facing a child custody dispute in California, one of the first questions you may ask yourself is: Do I really need a lawyer for this? The answer depends on the complexity of your case, your relationship with the other parent, and how comfortable you feel navigating California’s family court system on your own….
If your child’s health, safety, or emotional well-being is in danger, the court can step in right away—but you must act fast and with clear, documented evidence. Here are examples of situations where emergency custody may be appropriate: In these cases, filing an ex parte request under California Rule of Court 5.151–5.165 may be the…
Navigating a child custody case in California can feel overwhelming—especially when you’re trying to do what’s best for your child. Many parents come to us at Scott Mitchell Law with one main goal: to spend equal time with their children. In many cases, a 50/50 custody timeshare is not only possible but encouraged, as long…
When two people have a child together when they aren’t married, one of the parents must file a paternity action with the court in order to establish who the legal father is. A paternity action is similar to a family law divorce case, to the extent that child custody and child support issues are handled…
Twitter, Facebook, blogs and all the other online connections make it so easy to share your thoughts and feelings with the rest of the world. Maybe too easy. Experts say that social media postings are increasingly being used as evidence in divorces, custody and visitation cases. More and more people are learning, to their dismay,…
As a practicing child custody attorney in Modesto California, I have handled literally hundreds of child custody cases, and I have seen what works and what doesn’t work in child custody cases. I have created this list as a quick overview of thoughts and tips for people who are facing child custody battles. I hope…
Sometimes, child custody is a matter of safety. But custody agreements don’t usually happen overnight and could put the child’s wellbeing in a state of flux during court proceedings. In California, you can request an emergency child custody or visitation order to protect your child from harm. “When can I use an emergency child custody…
Best Interests of the Parents vs. Best Interests of the Child: Finding Balance in Child Custody Cases In family law, one of the most frequently heard phrases is “best interests of the child.” Whether you’re facing a child custody battle or seeking a divorce attorney, this guiding principle often leads the discussion. However, while the focus is often…
So you want 50/50 Custody I think the most common phrase I hear when a parent comes into my office to talk about child custody is the phrase 50/50 custody. And when I am representing my client before the court, I try to always warn them to not use this phrase unless they want to…
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