Are you looking for a child custody lawyer in Torrance, CA?

At Skarin Law Group, we are Torrance child custody lawyers committed to thorough preparation in every matter we handle.

If you and your child’s other parent disagree about where your child will live, a Torrance, CA child custody lawyer at Skarin Law Group can present your proposed schedule to the court. Custody orders also decide who makes choices about school and medical care. We represent mothers and fathers, whether they are requesting an order or opposing one.

Every attorney at our firm handles custody matters, and we have 15 years of experience with these cases. Schedule a consultation to go over your current parenting arrangement and the orders you want.

Child Custody Lawyer Torrance, CA

A child custody lawyer prepares the court papers that request or oppose a custody order. The lawyer also drafts parenting plans, negotiates with the other parent’s counsel, and presents evidence at hearings. That evidence includes school records, medical records, and each parent’s history of caring for the child.

Children under 18 make up 20.8% of Torrance’s population, according to Census Bureau estimates. A parenting plan for a school-age child has to account for the school calendar, activities, and travel time between two homes. A Torrance child custody attorney builds the proposed schedule around those details.

Types of Child Custody Cases We Handle in Torrance

Custody questions come up in several kinds of cases and at different stages. We handle first-time orders, changes to existing orders, and enforcement. Our attorneys represent either parent in each matter below.

• Divorce. Married parents usually resolve custody inside the divorce case. We request temporary custody orders early in the case. The final parenting plan is then negotiated or tried as part of the judgment.
• Paternity. Unmarried parents typically ask for custody orders in a parentage case. We file or respond to the parentage petition and request custody orders in the same proceeding. The parenting schedule and decision-making authority are then addressed the same way as in a divorce.
• Legal custody. Legal custody covers decisions about a child’s school, medical care, and welfare. We handle disputes over whether parents share that authority or one parent holds it. These disputes often involve a specific decision, such as a school change.
• Physical custody. Physical custody concerns where the child lives. We propose schedules that fit the child’s age, school, and each parent’s work hours. We also prepare the evidence that supports the proposal.
• Child visitation. A visitation order sets the time a child spends with the parent who has less custodial time. We handle regular schedules, holiday rotations, and supervised visitation. We also address exchanges and transportation between homes.
• Custody modifications. We file and oppose requests to change an existing order. Common reasons include a new work schedule, a child’s changing needs, or a parent’s move. We gather evidence showing how the current order works in practice.
• Move-away requests. A relocation by one parent can make the existing schedule unworkable. We represent parents who want to move with a child and parents who oppose the move. These cases require detailed evidence about the child’s ties to each home.
• Custody order enforcement. A parent who withholds a child or ignores the schedule is violating a court order. We ask the court to enforce the order and, where appropriate, to change it. We document each missed exchange so the court has a clear record.
• Parental rights. We represent parents whose custody or decision-making authority is challenged by the other parent or a third party. We also respond to requests that would limit a parent’s time with a child.

Why Choose Skarin Law Group as my Child Custody Lawyer in Torrance, CA?

Custody Work at Every Stage of a Case

A custody order often needs attention after it is entered. We handle the initial request, later modifications, and enforcement, so a parent can stay with one set of attorneys as a child grows. Our attorneys have 15 years of experience with custody cases, and all of them handle these matters. We represent the parent asking for an order and the parent responding to one. Parents who also need help with support or property division can rely on us as their family lawyer in Torrance, CA. Our fees are billed hourly, and clients maintain an evergreen retainer.

Recognition in the Los Angeles Family Law Bar

Matthew Skarin, our President, belongs to the Family Law Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is also a member of the Association of Certified Family Law Specialists. Super Lawyers listed him as a Rising Star from 2015 through 2019, before his selection to the Super Lawyers list. U.S. News named him among Best Lawyers and named our firm among Best Law Firms from 2020 to 2022. He is admitted to practice in California and before the U.S. District Court.

Understanding Child Custody Cases

Types of Custody and Best Interest Factors

California recognizes two kinds of custody. Legal custody is the right to make decisions about a child’s health, education, and welfare. Physical custody refers to where the child lives. Either kind can be joint or sole, and the two do not have to match. A court can order joint legal custody while the child lives mainly with one parent. Joint physical custody means each parent has significant periods of time with the child. For example, one parent can have the school week while the other has weekends and part of the summer. Many families use custody arrangements that share decision rights equally but divide time unevenly.

Three principles guide a judge’s custody decision.

• The child’s best interest is the legal standard in every custody decision.
• State policy favors frequent and continuing contact with both parents.
• Neither parent receives a preference for being the mother or the father.

What Is The Child Custody Case Timeline?

The legal steps in a custody dispute start with a filed request. One parent files a request for custody orders in a divorce or parentage case, and the other parent files a response. Either parent can also ask for temporary orders while the case is pending. In Los Angeles County, parents complete an online orientation and then attend court mediation through Family Court Services before the hearing.

An agreement reached in mediation is written up and submitted to the judge for signature. Unresolved issues go to a hearing, where each side presents evidence. The resulting order remains in place unless the court later modifies it. A child custody attorney in Torrance can estimate the schedule for your case once a hearing date is set.

What Are Important Aspects of a Child Custody Case?

Custody cases are decided on evidence about the child’s daily life. A Torrance custody lawyer at our firm reviews five areas closely.

• The current schedule. The arrangement the child already follows is the starting point for most negotiations. We document how long that arrangement has been in place.
• Records of involvement. School, medical, and activity records show which parent handles which responsibilities. We request these records early in the case.
• Communication between parents. Texts, emails, and social media posts can become exhibits at a hearing.
• The child’s routine. A plan that fits school hours, activities, and medical appointments is more practical for both homes to follow.
• Compliance with existing orders. A parent who follows temporary orders is in a stronger position to request changes later.

What Should You Bring to Your Child Custody Consultation?

Documents about your child’s routine let us evaluate your position at the first meeting. Bring the items below if you have them.

• Any custody orders, filed papers, or written agreements
• A calendar showing the schedule your child follows now
• Contact information for the child’s school and doctors
• Messages between you and the other parent about the schedule

If you have no order yet, a written description of the current arrangement is enough to start.

During the consultation, we ask questions about your family and your goals. We then give you a direct assessment of the schedule you want and the evidence that supports it.

Torrance Family Court and Local Resources

The Torrance Courthouse hears family law cases for the Southwest District of the Los Angeles Superior Court. Parents with a custody case there use two court programs. A Torrance, CA child custody attorney can explain how each one fits into your case.

• Child Custody Mediation. Family Court Services provides confidential mediation. Parents work on a parenting plan with a mental health professional. An agreement goes to the judge for review and signature.
• Our Children First. This online orientation prepares parents for mediation. The court requires parents to complete it before their session.

Reach Out to Skarin Law Group to Schedule a Consultation

A custody order sets your child’s weekly routine and each parent’s authority. Skarin Law Group prepares each custody matter with the documents and testimony a judge will review. We charge hourly fees and use an evergreen retainer. Contact us to schedule a consultation with a Torrance child custody lawyer about your parenting schedule or an existing order.