Voted #1 Family Law Firm in California
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Child custody disputes are among the most logistically complex and emotionally charged challenges a parent can face — and the decisions that come out of them can shape a child’s life for years. Where your child will live, how parenting time is shared, who makes decisions about their education and medical care: none of these questions have easy answers, and none of them should be navigated without experienced legal support. In Manhattan Beach and throughout the South Bay, California family courts resolve every custody matter using the same guiding principle: the best interests of the child. That standard considers stability, safety, each parent’s involvement, and the strength of the child’s existing relationships. Understanding how courts apply the standard — and how to present your case effectively within that framework — is where skilled legal counsel makes the difference.
Whether your custody matter arises from a divorce, a separation, or a parentage action, Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C. provides strategic, compassionate representation at every stage. We work closely with parents to understand their goals, their family dynamics, and what their children genuinely need — then build a legal strategy around those realities.
California law divides custody into two distinct categories: legal and physical.
Legal custody is the right to make important decisions about your child’s life — their schooling, healthcare, extracurricular activities, and general welfare. Joint legal custody is typical in California, meaning both parents share decision-making authority. Sole legal custody is reserved for situations where shared decision-making is genuinely unworkable or unsafe.
Physical custody determines where the child lives and how parenting time is divided. Except in unusual circumstances, the court prioritizes some form of shared physical custody. Joint physical custody does not require a perfect 50/50 split — it means the child spends significant time with both parents. Sole physical custody, with visitation rights for the other parent, may be appropriate depending on the circumstances.
Our Manhattan Beach child custody attorneys help you understand how these distinctions apply to your specific situation and develop a parenting plan that protects your relationship with your child while meeting the court’s standards.
Family courts do not simply award custody based on parental preferences — the court must prioritize the child’s best interests. Judges evaluate a range of factors under California Family Code § 3011 to determine what arrangement genuinely serves the child’s health, safety, and welfare. At the Torrance Courthouse, those factors typically include:
Because these factors are highly case-specific, how your case is presented matters enormously. A parent who is well-prepared, credible, and clearly focused on the child’s needs — rather than their own grievances — is in a far stronger position before a Southwest District judge. Our caring team helps clients navigate this difficult process with the calm and confidence that promotes positive outcomes. We protect your parental rights while prioritizing your child’s well-being.
Our firm assists parents throughout Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, El Segundo, and the broader South Bay with all aspects of child custody and visitation. Every family is different, and we build legal strategies accordingly. We handle:
Schoenberg Family Law Group has served families for nearly 40 years. Our clients trust us not only for our extensive experience but for our consistent track record of helping shape families’ futures with precision, integrity, and genuine care. This deep focus extends directly to protecting parental roles and shielding children during complex splits.
Founding attorney Debra Schoenberg, a Certified Family Law Specialist, brings decades of hands-on experience resolving highly sensitive custody matters. Her authoritative and highly targeted approach helps parents assert their rights clearly, ensuring that local court professionals see a stable, compelling path forward for the children. Our team is equipped to handle even the most complex and emotionally charged family law situations with compassion, clarity, and creative solutions.
Not every custody dispute needs to end in a courtroom. California courts strongly encourage parents to work together to develop their own tailored parenting plan for approval by the court. Parents in the Southwest District are required to participate in mediation through Family Court Services in Torrance before a judge will issue final custody orders. When both parents are willing to communicate and focus on their child’s needs, mediation offers real advantages:
Mediation sessions typically focus on developing a workable parenting plan, establishing custody and visitation schedules, resolving decision-making disputes, and reducing ongoing conflict between parents. For Manhattan Beach families, school calendars, youth sports commitments, and community ties are often central to a child’s routine — mediation allows for the kind of detailed, customized planning that a judge simply may not have time to craft.
That said, mediation is not appropriate for every situation. When there are serious safety concerns, a history of domestic violence, or a fundamental breakdown in communication, litigation becomes necessary. In those cases, the Torrance Courthouse will review evidence, hear testimony, and issue enforceable orders based on the child’s best interests. Our attorneys are experienced in both paths — and we help you navigate whatever path your custody process requires. Litigated custody cases in the Southwest District can involve formal court filings and hearings, judicial custody determinations, custody evaluations, witness testimony, and binding court orders. Having skilled legal representation in these proceedings is essential.
Custody orders are not always permanent. Children grow, circumstances change, and arrangements that made sense at one point in a family’s life may no longer serve the child well. California courts allow custody and visitation orders to be modified when a parent can demonstrate a significant change in circumstances that affects the child’s best interests. Common reasons parents in Manhattan Beach seek custody modifications include:
When reviewing a modification request, Southwest District judges will consider whether the change in circumstances is genuine and substantial, how the proposed modification would affect the child’s current stability, and whether the adjustment is truly in the child’s best interests — not just more convenient for a parent. One point that catches many parents off guard: informal agreements between parents are not legally enforceable. Even if both of you agree to adjust the schedule, those changes need to be documented and approved by the court to carry any legal weight. We help clients formalize modifications properly so there is no ambiguity down the road.
Custody and family law proceedings for Manhattan Beach residents are handled through the Los Angeles County Superior Court’s Southwest District.
Custody cases require more than legal knowledge. They require an attorney who listens, understands what is actually at stake, and knows how to present a parent’s case in the most credible and compelling way possible to the local court. Schoenberg Family Law Group has served families for nearly four decades. Our longevity reflects our extensive experience, deep care, and consistent track record of protecting children’s well-being — and parental rights — during divorce and custody proceedings.
Under the specific tactical direction of Certified Family Law Specialist Debra Schoenberg, our team ensures that personal disputes do not overshadow structural solutions. Her decades-long history of finding creative solutions to custody disputes and advocating for parents and children in and out of California courts gives our firm a distinct advantage when designing resilient parenting structures. Her deep understanding of parental rights and child welfare enables us to approach both settlement talks and high-conflict trials with maximum readiness and legal expertise.
When you work with our firm, you can expect:
We handle these matters with the seriousness and discretion they deserve.
If you are facing a custody dispute, the earlier you seek legal guidance, the better positioned you will be. At Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C., we are committed to helping Manhattan Beach parents protect their parental rights, preserve meaningful relationships with their children, and reach custody solutions that provide long-term stability. Contact us at 866.618.2132 or fill out our online form to schedule a confidential consultation. We proudly serve clients throughout Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, El Segundo, and the broader South Bay.
"I was seeking a reputable family law firm for my prenuptial agreement and received high praise for the Schoenberg Law Group. My attorney listened to my questions and responded to them very patiently. She also paid close attention all my concerns and made sure I was aware of the legal value of the agreement I was about to sign. It was…”
D.R.“It has been a real blessing to find this family law group in my life. I was in the middle of a custody battle with my ex wife and had a lawyer who had sided with my ex wife’s lawyer. I was faced with the option of paying to a regular lawyer to do half jobs with no results or to invest a bit more for a top family counselor who understood my situation and at the same time not giving me false hopes."
A.L."I hesitated filing papers for a long time because I was not sure if I could survive a long legal battle. When we were married, my husband worked while I raised the children, two under four years old, and I was afraid I would lose the stability they needed. I had a wonderful group of friends that helped me search for a reputable law firm that could represent me when my focus was on my children. They found the"
L.A.We are trial lawyers who litigate high-conflict, high-stakes cases. While we try to build on mediation efforts and exhaust opportunities for a negotiated agreement, emotions, egos and various other realities often force these disputes into court. It is critical to work with a firm that knows how to apply the law and the facts in your favor, whether in the courtroom or at the negotiating table.
One of California’s Top Family Lawyers for five consecutive years: 2022–2026
SFLG Voted #1 Family Law Firm in California for six consecutive years: 2021 - 2026
One of the Best Places to Work in the Bay Area by San Francisco Business Times
Debra Schoenberg was named a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML)
Designated as a Certified Family Law Specialist by the State of California Board of Legal Specialization
Board-Certified Family Law Trial Specialist by The National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA)
“My goal is to preserve your dignity and your humanity throughout what can be a very difficult and painful process, while at the same time achieving a favorable outcome on your behalf.”
Over 400 Years of Collective Family Law Experience
Debra R. Schoenberg
Owner & Founder
Lily Huang
Senior Associate
Kimia Kojouri
Associate
Miho Takarada
Senior Counsel
Not necessarily. Child support is calculated based on each parent's income and the actual percentage of time the child spends with each parent. A higher-earning parent may still owe support even with equal parenting time.
A judge may consider a child's preference if they are sufficiently mature — typically around age 14 or older in California — but it is one factor among many, not a deciding one. The court's focus remains on the child's overall best interests, not their stated preference alone.
We can file a motion for contempt or a request for modification. Southwest District courts take violations seriously and may adjust custody arrangements if a parent consistently disregards court-ordered schedules.
Paternity can be established through a Voluntary Declaration of Parentage (VDOP) or a court order supported by DNA testing. Establishing paternity is a prerequisite for requesting custody or child support orders in California.
A move-away case arises when a custodial parent wants to relocate a significant distance with the child. The relocating parent must demonstrate that the move serves the child's best interests — not just their own. These cases can be highly contested and require careful legal preparation.
Yes. When parents are no longer in an intact relationship, California law allows grandparents to petition for visitation if there is a meaningful pre-existing bond and visitation would serve the child's best interests.
Temporary orders can often be issued relatively quickly. A final custody judgment may take several months, particularly if a custody evaluation is ordered or the case is contested.
Yes, but you must demonstrate a significant change in circumstances that makes modification necessary for the child's welfare. The bar is intentionally high — courts value stability in existing arrangements.
The court can order alcohol and/or drug testing, require supervised visitation, or impose other conditions to ensure the child's safety. Documented evidence of substance abuse is taken seriously in these proceedings.
It is the legal standard California courts apply to every custody decision. It encompasses the child's physical safety, emotional stability, relationship with each parent, ties to their community, and any other factor that bears on their long-term welfare.
