Redding Child Custody Lawyer & Visitation Law Firm

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Redding Child Custody Attorney

Going to court for a family law issue can be hectic, emotional, and overwhelming. When the matter of child custody comes into play, it’s natural for parents and children alike to have powerful feelings about the legal process.

From anxieties about the future to each party’s personal preferences, navigating these emotional landmines to find positive outcomes requires the delicate touch of a Redding child custody lawyer.

Eric Alan Berg & Associates: Redding’s Family Law Team

At Eric Alan Berg & Associates, we understand the profound impact child custody cases can have on families in Redding, CA. As a highly reputable and successful child custody team, we are committed to providing legal representation that is both compassionate and highly effective. We can work to ensure that your voice as a parent and your child’s interests are prioritized by the court.

Understanding Child Custody in the State of California

Before entering into any proceedings, it is crucial to prepare yourself. California has a variety of laws dictating how child custody orders must be handled, so it’s essential that you understand your rights and options moving forward. The following are the main forms of child custody in California:

Legal Custody – Legal custody dictates which parent has the authority to make major life decisions on behalf of their child. This includes most major choices about the child’s development and lifestyle, such as education, healthcare, and even the child’s religious upbringing.
- Joint Legal Custody – Custody determinations resulting in joint legal custody involve a court-ordered framework for shared (and ideally highly collaborative) decision-making.
- Sole Legal Custody – At the other end of the spectrum from collaborative co-parenting, there is sole legal custody. This grants one parent exclusive decision-making rights. Sole legal custody is typically only ordered in cases where one parent has a history of violence, criminality, or debilitating mental health concerns.
Physical Custody – Physical custody addresses where the child will live and who will care for them. Like legal custody, physical custody can either be shared or granted to just one parent.
- Joint Physical Custody – Under this model, the children have a structured schedule where they are able to spend time with both parents. While joint custody does not have to be equal, parents often try to share as much time with their children as possible.
- Sole Physical Custody – When one parent is awarded sole custody of a child, it usually extends to the concept of physical custody. In these arrangements, the other (noncustodial) parent may only be able to see their child through supervised visits or by satisfying other court-ordered stipulations.

What Is a Visitation Plan?

Visitation schedules are created when one parent is awarded sole physical custody of their child and the other parent still has the legal right to see them. A visitation plan should include considerations for regular visits as well as holidays and special events.

Supervised visitation and other stipulations may be ordered in certain circumstances where the court feels the child’s safety or well-being is at risk.

Factors that May Affect Your Child Custody Agreement in California

Courts in the State of California need to take many different factors into account when determining child custody after a divorce or legal separation. Some of those factors include:

The Child’s Best Interests – This is the overarching principle that guides custody proceedings in the State of California. Between the parents, the child, and the judge overseeing the case, you may find four very different perspectives on what is best for the child. Court officials strive to cut through this uncertainty and make choices that promote the child’s well-being above all other considerations.
Health and Safety – The court must assess each parent’s ability to provide a safe and stable environment. Consideration is given to factors like living conditions and access to health care services, but also to any history of domestic abuse or issues with controlled substances.
The Child’s Age and Health – The age and health of the child can also play a role in determining both custody arrangements and child support payments. For example, infants have very different needs than teenagers. Any special medical needs, such as a child with a disease requiring long-term treatments, must also be considered.
Continuity and Stability – The court may determine that it will be less disruptive for the child to stay with one parent versus the other, such as when one parent is remaining in the family home and the other is moving out. Stability for minor children during this challenging transition is of paramount concern to the court.
The Child’s Relationship with Each Parent – Everyone’s relationship with each of their parents is unique, and sometimes finances, housing, healthcare, criminal records, and the other more easily quantifiable factors simply don’t tell the whole story. When it comes to older children and teens, the court also has the option to consider the child’s own opinions and desires when making custody determinations.
History – Many aspects of your history may potentially be scrutinized when making custody determinations. Your professional background may be used to determine future earning potential, while the court will also be eager to revisit any criminal charges on your record. The history of your relationship with your child– your track record as a parent and caregiver– will also be closely looked at.

The Importance of Working with a Redding Child Custody Attorney

If you are feeling overwhelmed by your role in a child custody proceeding, hiring a skilled family law attorney can be indispensable. Our team’s knowledge of family law allows us to develop effective legal strategies that can be formed around your exact needs, helping us to advocate for the outcome you desire.

Our family lawyer understands just how complex Redding child custody cases can become and is prepared to fight for you and your family in any scenario.

Eric Alan Berg & Associates: Redding, CA’s Trusted Guide for Child Custody Proceedings

If you are involved in a child custody proceeding and need highly effective legal help, please contact the Redding offices of Eric Alan Berg & Associates today. Our firm has experience dealing with a wide range of family law issues, including custody modifications, child support, property division, and more. Together, we’ll help ensure that your child’s interests are truly served.

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!

Redding Child Custody Lawyer