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At Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C., we represent parents throughout Sacramento and Sacramento County in a wide range of custody and visitation matters. Our Sacramento child custody lawyers understand the emotional and legal complexities these cases often involve, and we work closely with clients to pursue solutions that prioritize both the child’s best interests and the parent-child relationship.
Whether your custody matter arises from divorce, legal separation, or a parentage case involving unmarried parents, our firm provides strategic and compassionate representation tailored to your family’s specific needs and goals.
We proudly represent parents throughout Sacramento, including East Sacramento, Land Park, Midtown, Arden-Arcade, Elk Grove, Folsom, Roseville, and surrounding Northern California communities.
California law divides custody into two primary categories: legal custody and physical custody.
Legal custody refers to the right and responsibility to make important decisions regarding the child’s:
Legal custody may be:
Physical custody determines where the child primarily lives and how parenting time is shared between the parents.
Physical custody arrangements may involve:
Every custody arrangement is unique. California courts focus on creating parenting plans that support the child’s overall health, safety, stability, and emotional well-being.
California family courts determine custody based on the best interests of the child standard. Judges evaluate multiple factors to determine which arrangement best supports the child’s welfare and long-term stability.
Factors commonly considered include:
Because these cases are highly fact-specific, experienced legal representation can play a major role in how evidence and parenting concerns are presented to the court.
Our Sacramento child custody attorneys assist clients with all aspects of custody and visitation, including both negotiated agreements and contested litigation.
We regularly handle:
Our goal is to help parents establish practical custody arrangements that support their child’s long-term well-being while protecting important parental rights.
A parenting plan outlines how parents will share responsibilities and parenting time following separation or divorce. A well-structured parenting plan can reduce conflict, provide consistency for the child, and establish clear expectations for both parents.
Parenting plans often address:
Our Sacramento child custody lawyers work carefully with clients to create parenting plans that reflect the realities of their schedules, family dynamics, and the child’s developmental needs.
California courts strongly encourage mediation in child custody disputes. In Sacramento County, parents are generally required to participate in Child Custody Recommending Counseling (CCRC) before contested custody hearings.
Mediation may help parents:
Mediation is often beneficial when both parents are willing to work cooperatively toward a child-focused resolution.
However, litigation may still become necessary in cases involving:
Our attorneys are experienced in both mediation and courtroom litigation, allowing us to adapt our strategy to the circumstances of each case.
Relocation cases can become especially complex when one parent wishes to move with the child to another city, county, or state. California courts carefully evaluate how a proposed move may impact the child’s relationship with both parents and overall stability.
Move-away cases may involve:
These cases often require detailed evidence and careful legal preparation due to the significant impact relocation may have on custody and visitation arrangements.
Child custody orders are not always permanent. As children grow and family circumstances change, modifications may become necessary to better support the child’s needs and stability.
Common reasons for custody modifications include:
California courts generally require proof of a significant change in circumstances before modifying an existing custody order.
We assist clients throughout Sacramento County in pursuing and defending custody modifications while working to minimize unnecessary disruption for the child.
When one parent refuses to follow a court-ordered custody arrangement, legal intervention may become necessary. Violations of custody orders can negatively impact both the child and the parent-child relationship.
Common enforcement issues include:
Our Sacramento child custody lawyers help clients pursue enforcement remedies through the California family court system to protect both parental rights and court-ordered parenting arrangements – while always prioritizing the child’s wellbeing.
Custody and visitation matters in Sacramento are generally handled through the Sacramento County Superior Court family law division.
Sacramento Family Relations Courthouse
3341 Power Inn Road
Sacramento, CA 95826
This courthouse handles many custody, visitation, divorce, and family law proceedings throughout Sacramento County.
Child custody matters can have a lasting impact on your relationship with your child and your family’s future. Having experienced legal guidance during this process can help you protect your parental rights while pursuing a stable and child-focused outcome.
At Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C., we are committed to helping parents throughout Sacramento County navigate custody disputes with professionalism, compassion, and strategic advocacy.
Contact our Sacramento child custody attorneys today to schedule a confidential consultation and learn how we can assist you with your custody or visitation matter.
"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.
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)
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
“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
Courts determine custody based on the child’s best interests, focusing on factors such as safety, stability, health, emotional well-being, and each parent’s ability to provide care.
No. California law does not favor either parent based on gender. Courts evaluate what arrangement best serves the child’s needs.
Depending on the child’s age and maturity (typically beginning at about age 14), the court may consider the child’s preference, but it is only one factor among many.
Joint custody means both parents share legal custody, physical custody, or both. Parenting time may still vary depending on the circumstances.
The court may enforce the order through additional hearings, modifications, contempt proceedings, or other legal remedies.
Yes. California courts allow custody modifications when there has been a significant change in circumstances affecting the child’s welfare.
Parents meet with a court-connected counselor or mediator to attempt to reach an agreement regarding custody and parenting schedules before appearing before a judge.
The court may impose restrictions such as supervised visitation, drug testing, or temporary custody limitations to protect the child’s safety.
A move-away case involves one parent requesting permission to relocate with the child in a way that significantly impacts the current custody arrangement.
Yes, but paternity generally must first be legally established before custody or visitation rights can be formally determined.
