Chico Child Custody Lawyer & Visitation Law Firm

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Chico Child Custody Attorney

Navigating child custody can be emotionally and legally difficult. Parents involved in child custody disputes in Chico, California, must become familiar with state laws, legal procedures, and available local resources. The legal process presents emotional difficulties for parents who need to protect their rights and place their child’s welfare first. Having a Chico child custody lawyer on your side can help you go through these matters.

Chico Child Custody Lawyer

Why Choose Us?

Eric Alan Berg & Associates focuses on understanding the emotional complexities of child custody disputes while providing dedicated support to families in Chico and Redding through these difficult times.

Our family law team combines more than 26 years of experience to create custom legal solutions that defend your parental rights while focusing on the welfare of your child. We embrace your crisis as our crisis and dedicate ourselves to delivering quality legal representation for you and your family.

Child Custody in California

Over ¼ of children under the age of 21 have at least one of their parents living outside of their home. In 2021, the percentage of households with children under age 18 that had two married parents in the home was 17.8%. This signifies a 40% decrease since 1970, one of the lowest the country has seen. This highlights a strong need to understand child custody laws, rights, and options in Chico, California, and the rest of the nation.

In California courts, child custody decisions follow the “best interests of the child” standard. A judge will evaluate multiple factors, including the child’s health and safety and each parent’s capacity to create a stable environment, when determining custody. Custody is generally categorized into two types:

Legal custody. A parent has the authority to make crucial choices regarding their child’s education and healthcare, as well as their religious upbringing and overall well-being. The court can assign joint legal custody, which requires both parents to share decision-making duties, or sole legal custody, which gives one parent exclusive control over these decisions.
Physical custody. This decision establishes the main place where the child will live. The court has the authority to decide joint physical custody, which allows children to live with both parents equally, or sole physical custody, where children reside with one parent and visit the other.

Whenever possible, California courts choose joint custody arrangements because children benefit from maintaining relationships with both parents. The court will award sole custody to one parent when evidence shows that domestic violence or substance abuse creates a risk to the child.

California Mediation

California requires parents who fail to reach a custody agreement to participate in court-directed mediation sessions prior to a judge ruling on their case. Mediation aims to assist parents in developing a shared parenting plan that specifies custody schedules and visitation arrangements while detailing decision-making responsibilities.

Family Court Services in Butte County offers mediation sessions, which require parents to complete an online orientation first. Research indicates that about 44% of cases achieve complete resolutions through mediation.

How to Strengthen Your Child Custody Case in Chico

Successful custody cases require you to prepare thoroughly. The custody decision relies on multiple factors, which makes it essential to demonstrate your responsible parenting actions. A few things you can do to strengthen your case include the following:

Maintain a detailed log of your child’s interactions by recording your involvement at school functions and doctor appointments, along with participation in extracurricular activities.
Ensure your home is safe and suitable since judges prefer a stable living environment when making custody decisions.
Encourage a relationship with the other parent. The court usually looks favorably upon parents who support their child’s relationship with their other parent when there are no safety issues.
Follow all orders given by the court. Non-compliance with temporary custody orders or mediation agreements can damage your case.

Steps to Filing for Child Custody in Chico

The first step in filing for child custody in Chico, California, is to file a petition with the court. This can be done at the Family Law Division at the North Butte County Courthouse (1775 Concord Avenue, Chico, CA 95928).

Next, you should serve the other parent. This is required by California statutes. All parents are required to engage in obligatory mediation provided by Butte County Family Court Services to establish a parenting agreement. A judge will determine custody arrangements by evaluating the child’s best interests if mediation does not result in an agreement.

FAQs

Q: What Should You Not Say in Child Custody Court in California?

A: During child custody court proceedings, you should refrain from making negative comments about the other parent while also avoiding exaggerated statements and emotional outbursts. Judges prioritize what benefits children during custody decisions, and appearing hostile or resistant may damage your legal standing.

Maintain your credibility during custody proceedings by not discussing personal issues unrelated to parenting and by avoiding lies or misrepresentations.

Q: Who Wins Most Child Custody Cases in California?

A: Mothers used to receive primary custody more frequently, but joint custody arrangements are becoming more common now. California sees many shared custody rulings because the state prioritizes involvement from both parents. Fathers gain custody more frequently when they show substantial involvement in their children’s lives.

The court makes custody decisions by evaluating what will benefit the child most through stability analysis and parental cooperation assessment.

Q: How Do I Hire a Child Custody Lawyer?

A: To hire a child custody lawyer, research a local Chico family law attorneys through online reviews and ask trusted sources for recommendations. Arrange meetings with prospective attorneys to review their background experience as well as their service fees and legal plans. Select an attorney who has experience in child custody cases and knowledge of California’s custody laws while maintaining a focus on what serves your child.

Q: How Long Does a Child Custody Case Take in California?

A: The length of a child custody case in Chico, California varies based on several factors, including the complexity of the case and the court backlog. If parents reach an agreement through mediation, it generally will take a shorter time. Contested cases typically take much longer. High-conflict cases usually take the longest, as they may require evaluations and professional testimonies in order to reach a decision.

Contact Eric Alan Berg & Associates Today

Dealing with child custody arrangements and agreements can be difficult. Fortunately, you can get legal help. Contact Eric Alan Berg & Associates today.

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On May 4, 2018, Attorneys of Eric Alan Berg and Associates successfully suppressed evidence in a DUI case resulting in a complete dismissal. The client had been pulled over on a Friday night leaving the Market Street Steakhouse. A Redding police officer claimed that his tail light was out and initiated a traffic stop. Unbeknownst to the officer, the car had just passed a safety inspection a few weeks before. The defense subpoenaed the inspection records and called the technician who serviced the car to testify to explain that the light was working properly, and called an eye witness who saw that the light was in working condition the morning after the arrest. The client can now return to work without fear of any license restrictions, probation, or punishment.

DUI Dismissal

A man in his 60’s was charged with molesting and sodomizing five boys in a 35 year period. The sheriffs detective knew at least one of the boys had recanted but he hid the tape recording wherein the boy said it never happened. The district attorney had to search the sheriff’s computer himself to find the tape showing the man’s innocence and showing that the boy said he was innocent.

False accusation of multiple molestation

We represented an old man who was accused of sexually molesting his girl friend’s daughter. The prosecutor claimed that he confessed on tape. The defense showed that it was no confession. Many of the jurors found the defendant not guilty. The defendant eventually avoided state prison and was freed.

False accusation of molestation of girl friends daughter

Our client was a probation officer and was charged with sexually molesting his neighbor and his adopted foster daughter. The defense showed that his daughter had a long history of falsely accusing people of serious crimes. The defense also presented the daughters long history of mental illness. The defense also showed that the police lost a crucial recorded statement of another complaining witness. Many jurors found the accused innocent of the charges and the court dismissed the charges after the first trial.

False accusation of adopted child molestation

Our client was charged with sexually molesting his adopted step-daughter. The district attorney claimed that he had a confession on tape. The defense showed that it was not a confession but a set up. Many jurors found the defendant not guilty and the court dismissed all of the charges. In that case, the accuser originally accused our client of molesting her for many months. The district attorney tried to change the story when we proved that he wasn’t even in town when these crimes supposedly occurred.

False accusation of molestation of step daughter

We defended two Hells Angels accused of rape. At the trial we proved that the accuser exchanged her phone number with one of the other old bikers at the clubhouse, a few minutes after the alleged rape. Through our investigation, we learned that the accuser, a young woman in her early twentys had borrowed her father’s car for the night. She returned it late, making him late for work in the morning. She needed a good excuse. The excuse she used was that she had been raped by two Hells Angels.

False accusation of rape

An old man in his 70’s was charged with threatening 2 sheriff deputies with his Chinese assault rifle . This man was a famous newspaper editor and publisher in the county. He was a regular critic of the Sheriff. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. On Christmas Eve, he and his wife had been burning rat’s nests on his property in Hayfork. As the fire got out of control and spread prisoners from the local fire camp were called to put it out. They were up all night making noise and causing his dog to bark which kept him and his wife and his dog awake on Christmas eve. He went down to the prisoners and told them to be quiet and then went back home.

False accusation of threatening of Sheriff Police.

Recently, a client of ours was facing multiple charges including possession of a controlled substance with a firearm, which is a prison eligible felony. Additionally, the DA in the case was looking to add more prison eligible felonies such as bringing a controlled substance into a jail. Eric Alan Berg & Associates was able to negotiate an agreement with the DA where our client plead to only two misdemeanor charges of possession of a firearm and controlled substance.

Securing Misdemeanor Deal when Client charged with Strikes

Recently we had a client who was arrested for possession of drugs and child abuse. Attorney Eric Berg was able to convince the DA to file only the drug possession charge and not the child abuse charge. Further, if our client continues with their treatment plan the entire case will be dismissed in six months without ever requiring our client to plead guilty or no-contest. If you or someone you know is facing legal troubles give our offices a call today at (530) 223-5100 to set up a free consultation!

Facilitating Substance Abuse Treatment and avoiding a Criminal Record

Recently a client retained us who was stopped for a traffic violation while they were transporting a couple of pounds of marijuana, which was discovered by law enforcement during the stop. Our offices were able to get all their charges and case dismissed in court. If you or someone you know has been arrested for similar crimes, give our offices a call today at (530) 223-5100 to set up a free consultation!

Marijuana Transportation Case Dismissed

Before retaining us, our client had a number of pending cases, and some matters being investigated by law enforcement. They took a plea bargain in which they plead guilty to three of their pending cases, with the understanding that the rest of their pending cases would be dismissed and any un-filed cases would not be filed. Shortly after entering this agreement, the DA’s office filed charges related to an investigation that began before they entered the agreement. We successfully argued that the DA’s office breached the plea agreement, and had the plea agreement enforced – meaning the new case was dismissed. If you or someone you know is in need of an attorney, give us a call today at (530) 223-5100 to set up a free consultation!