ClickCease
WE’VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR MORE THAN 35 YEARS. CALL US. 415.834.1120

Sonoma County Child Custody and Visitation Attorney

Request a Consultation

sonoma county child custody lawyers

Compassionate Child Custody And Visitation Lawyers Serving Sonoma County, CA

When you are fighting for the best interests of both you and your children, you need a team of dedicated family law attorneys by your side.  At Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C., our Sonoma County family law attorneys realize how the work we do affects the lives of you and your children and are fully committed to representing you in the battle for your parental rights. Contact the Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C. to retain a Sonoma County child custody and visitation attorney who is:

  • Experienced and knowledgeable in all areas of California child custody and visitation;
  • Successful at negotiation and litigation in high-conflict cases; and
  • Strategic and practical when approaching difficult problems.

Discuss your upcoming or pending child custody matter with a professional today by calling or contacting our Sonoma County office.

How Can Our Sonoma County Custody and Visitation Attorneys Help You?

The best way to make informed decisions regarding child custody and visitation is to have an experienced legal team working with you throughout your case.  At the Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C., our child custody attorneys take the time to ensure you understand California’s child custody law as it applies to you and your children.  We also explain your custody options in detail and work with you to devise the best custody plan to suit your family’s needs.

We can help you decide whether:

  • You and your co-parent are candidates for shared legal and physical custody;
  • A standard or open-ended custody and visitation schedule will meet your needs; and
  • Mediation or another dispute resolution tool would effectively create a childcare-related communication system between you and your co-parent that is effective and efficient.

Let the Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C. assess your current child custody orders for possible modifications and assist with your child support needs.  Call us now and set up your private consultation.

Custody and Visitation Lawyer Resources

Child Custody vs. Child Visitation in Sonoma County

Child custody and visitation refer to two separate child-rearing activities.  Child custody is the parent’s right and responsibility for taking care of their children.  Child visitation is how each parent spends time with the children.

In California, parents may come to their own child custody and visitation agreement, or the court can decide for them.  Before any decision by the court, the parents usually need to meet with a mediator from Family Court Services.

Custody Orders in Sonoma County

There are two distinct types of child custody.  These are legal custody and physical custody.  A parent with legal custody makes important decisions about a child’s life, including health, education, and welfare.

A child resides with a parent who has physical custody.  However, parents may share legal and physical custody or any combination of the two types of custody.  Shared custody is called joint custody.

Visitation Orders in Sonoma County

Visitation plans vary according to parents, their children, the location of parental residences, and several other factors.  Visitation plans are usually detailed to prevent conflict and confusion between parents.  These plans include scheduling holidays, birthdays, mother’s day, father’s day, and vacations.

Parents have the choice to use a more open-ended visitation plan without specific days or dates listed for visitation.  These plans can work for parents with amicable relationships.  However, open-ended plans can lead to disagreements and a future court appearance.

When visitation is a threat to a child’s safety and well-being, parental visitation can occur in a supervised environment.  There are rare instances where visitation of any kind would be harmful or not in a child’s best interest.

What is the Best Interest of the Child from The Court’s Perspective?

All child custody and visitation orders in California are made in accordance with the “best interest of the child.”  In determining the best interest of the child, the court looks to the following:

  • The age of the child;
  • The health of the child;
  • The emotional ties between the parents and the child;
  • The ability of the parents to care for the child;
  • Any history of family violence or substance abuse; and
  • The child’s ties to the school, home, and community.

The court has no bias towards either parent when awarding child custody.

Contact an Experienced Sonoma County Custody and Visitation Attorney

To learn more about legal and physical custody in California, or any other child custody and visitation matter, contact the experienced, compassionate attorneys at the Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C.  We handle complex child custody and visitation issues through all manners, including negotiation, mediation, and trial litigation. Contact us today!

Our Awards and Memberships

Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C., recognizes that family law matters involve complex, sensitive issues that can have a lasting impact on you, your family, your finances and your future.

More About Honors & Awards
Arrow Image
10.0 Avvo Superb Top Attorney Family Law, Divorce
Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal
American Jurist Institute Top 10 Attorneys 2017
100 TOP WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES Women Who Lead
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF MATRIMONIAL LAWYERS (AAML)
2022 Client Satisfaction American Institute of Family Law Attorneys 10 Best
100 Fastest-Growing Private Companies In the Bay Area San Francisco Business Times
2021 LGBTQ-OWNED BUSINESSES Business Pride
10 Best Female Attorneys 2017 American Institute of Family Law Attorneys
San Francisco Bay Area's Best and Brightest Companies to Work For Winner 2021
2018 Best Lawyers Best Law Firms U.S. News & World Report
California Board of Legal Specialization (CBLS) State Bar of California
2020 Client Champion Debra R. Schoenberg
San Francisco Business Times Corporate Philanthropy Awards 2019
Expertise Best Divorce Lawyers in Concord 2020
2018 Expertise Best Divorce Lawyers in San Francisco
Fast 100
Lead Counsel Rated
Litigation Counsel of America (LCA) Fellow
National Board of Trial Advocacy
2017 Parents' Press Best of The Bay
San Francisco Business Times
Rated By Super Lawyers Debra R. Schoenberg
The Business of Pride
2021 Best Businesses Three Best Rated
San Francisco Business Times Corporate Philanthropy Awards & Summit
American Jurist Institute Top 10 Attorneys of 2018
Arrow Image