Co-Parenting and Child Support

Making decisions for a child and co-parenting can be difficult—it’s especially so when there are different households involved. If you are having difficulty determining custody and a parenting plan on your own or obtaining the support your child needs, we can help you navigate creative parenting plans or determine a child support amount that is best for your family. As we guide you through the process, we take every measure to ensure that your child’s happiness and well-being are protected.

Courts consider two types of custody: legal custody and physical custody.

• Legal custody is the right to make decisions about your child’s health, education, and welfare. This may include deciding where your child goes to school, when they go to the doctor, what summer camps they attend, or whether they attend counseling. The court can grant one parent sole legal custody, meaning that they have the sole discretion to make these important decisions, or grant both parents joint legal custody. When two parents share joint legal custody they share the right and responsibility to make decisions for their child.

• Physical custody refers to the child’s residence and physical supervision. When sole physical custody is awarded to one parent, then they are solely responsible for physically supervising their child and their home is the child’s sole residence. Joint physical custody means that both parents share the responsibility of physically supervising the child and the child spends time with both parents. However, joint physical custody does not mean that each parent gets equal parenting time. It’s important to determine a visitation and parenting schedule that works best for your family.

In addition, a parenting plan can be included in your custody orders that details your agreements. Holidays and vacations are usually also considered in these plans. Once the parenting plan is established, we will work with you to identify your child’s needs, calculate child support based on the guideline formula as set forth in the California Family Code and reduce your agreements to an enforceable and binding order.