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There may be no other area of family law more contentious and stressful than Child Custody and Visitation. Both parties often want to retain primary physical and/or legal custody of children. A professional San Diego divorce lawyer explains that Child Custody and visitation decisions are some of the most important aspects of a divorce or dissolution proceeding. In the State of California, either parent may be entitled to sole custody or both parents can share joint custody of their child or children. Once an order is in place, it may be difficult to change it at a later date, unless there is a substantial change of circumstances.

Fighting over your child is costly, time-consuming and emotionally injurious to everyone involved, especially your child or children. But knowing your rights as you begin the process and acting proactively is of critical importance. It is essential to hire an experienced San Diego divorce attorney who specializes in custody litigation, as it could make all the difference in obtaining the results you want.

And according to top San Diego family law professionals with years of child custody law experience, the prevailing policy in California is first, to assure that children have frequent and continuing contact with both parents after the parents have separated or dissolved their marriage, or ended their relationship, and second, to encourage parents to share the rights and responsibilities of child rearing in order to effect this policy, except where the contact would not be in the best interest of the child or children.

Unless the parties can agree on a child custody arrangement, both parties likely will be ordered to attend a mandatory mediation at Family Court Services. The “Best Interest of the Child” is the standard to which decisions are made in a custody proceeding. Family law experts understand that juvenile dependency is a sensitive matter. Among the main goals when working with juvenile dependency matters, your local San Diego family law attorneys are committed to protecting the children, giving them stability, protecting a parents’ rights, treating everyone with dignity, and respecting diversity.