Southern California Defense Blog

If you are thinking about modifying your child custody arrangement with and Southern California Child Custody Lawyer, you have a couple of options. First, you can attempt to persuade the other parent to modify the arrangement to accommodate your needs. Second, if you feel you will be unsuccessful with the other parent, you will have to ask the court to modify your child custody and/or child visitation.

Before going to court, you will want to know what types of issues or facts the judge will consider when making the decision about your California child custody and visitation. When we at Wallin & Klarich are discussing child custody modification with our clients, our clients frequently already have in mind many issues that they want to bring up. Here are some issues that sometimes people don’t think about right away. See if any of these issues are applicable in your situation:

- Home environment: Is the other parent’s home a mess? Does your child have his or her own room in the other parent’s home? What about your home? Do you have pictures of your home and the other parent’s home?
- Relatives: Are close familial relationships important for you and your child? Are there any close relatives that live near your home or the other parent’s home? Are there relatives near your child’s age who live close by?
- Culture: Are there cultural or racial differences in your home or the other parent’s home? Will your child be able to appreciate and be educated as to his or her ancestral background if he or she is placed in one parent’s home versus the other parent’s home?
- Extra-curricular activities: Are there more opportunities for extra-curricular activities in one home versus the other home? Is one parent more likely to encourage hobbies than the other parent?

We are sure you can think of other issues that may apply in your specific situation. The bottom line is that you need to remember that the judge does not know your child and does not know your child’s needs. You do. It is your job to give the judge all the information that is important for your child’s growth and happiness. We are here to help you. If you would like to speak to a dedicated Southern California child custody lawyer, please contact us today at 888-749-0034 or visit www.wkfamilylaw.com.