Fremont Child Custody Attorney
Pleasanton Child Visitation Lawyer
Child custody and visitation are determined in accord with what the court believes is in the best interest of a child. While the court will take into consideration the home environment, income, work history, criminal record, and resources of each parent, there is no simple rule that automatically determines custody or visitation schedules. At the Law Offices of Grewal & Associates, our Fremont child custody attorneys work closely with clients in cases involving child custody and visitation rights.
We represent those interested in protecting custody and visitation rights as well as those seeking custody and visitation in cases involving ex-spouses, paternity cases, and grandparents' rights. We have the investigative resources needed to conduct background checks, request psychological evaluations, conduct in-home studies, order paternity tests, and collect other forms of evidence in support of our client's case.
If you are involved in a custody dispute or have been denied visitation rights, contact a Fremont child custody attorney at the Law Offices of Grewal & Associates today. We will schedule one-on-one consultation in order to evaluate your case and discuss the options available to you.
Establishing Custody - What the Court will Consider
As stated above, custody will be awarded according to what the court believes is in the best interest of a child. In order to determine what is in the best interest of a child, the court considers the following:
- Income of parents
- Work history
- History of domestic violence
- History of drug or alcohol abuse
- Education background of each parent
- Who provides medical benefits
- The relationship each parent has established with a child
Paternity, Custody, and Visitation
Once the paternity of a child is established, a father can challenge the adoption of his child, pursue custody, or demand visitation rights. A simple blood test is required to establish paternity and will be mandated by the court if any of the parties involved is unwilling to voluntarily provide a DNA sample.
Alternatively, if a father is unwilling to acknowledge his paternity of a child, a mother can request a paternity test in order to pursue child support for her child. However, once paternity is established, child support for years past cannot be retro-actively collected; rather, child support payments begin at the moment paternity is legally recognized by the court.
Grandparents' Rights - Grandchildren and Visitation
When grandparents and their adult, married children have a falling out, it's not uncommon for grandparents to be denied the right to see their grandchildren. In exceptional cases when a parent is unable to care for a child or when if a parent is incarcerated, grandparents may be granted custody or visitation rights. In most cases, however, as long as the parent of a child is alive, he or she can deny the right of grandparents to see their grandchildren. If a parent passes away, the grandparents have a better chance of establishing visitation rights, even if the surviving parent objects.
Contact Child Support Attorneys at the Law Offices of Grewal & Associates
To schedule an appointment and learn more about joint custody or how we can help you in any child custody or visitation matter, contact a Pleasanton child visitation lawyer at the Law Offices of Grewal & Associates today.
Attorney Michael Connich is the only Fremont, California, Certified Family Law Specialist, certified by the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. He earned that recognition over 30 years ago and has maintained the distinction ever since.