Child Custody & Child Support

On behalf of Morna Challoner of Challoner Law posted in blog on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. Children often understand more than adults give them credit for. When young, their vocabulary may be limited, but research has established that children can pick up a great deal of information from body language and tone. Simply put, it can be difficult for parents to keep secrets from their kids. You may know this; indeed you may have experienced it when you and your spouse decided to divorce. Discussions and disagreements you'd wanted to conceal were, instead, somewhat plain to your kids. At the very least, they knew 'something was up.' The tendency to conceal discord arises from a good place. Namely, you want to spare your children from the pain of seeing their parents fight. But when they're left to figure out things on their own, the pain children experience becomes all the more exquisite. Instead of speaking about it, they feel they must keep their suffering secret, too. What this dynamic underscores is how difficult it can be to protect children's interests during divorce. Efforts to protect have, instead, the opposite effect. And so, with this article, we would like to share some ways to keep your children's feelings proactively front-and-center. Children at the heart of the matter Although you and your former spouse have gone separate ways, your children continue to bind you to each other. Still, you may try to avoid your ex, even where it concerns the children. The exigencies of visitation and custody may make this a challenge, and many parents resort to coping methods that unfairly burden their children; for example: Making your child a messenger between you and your spouse Changing parenting schedules at the last minute Choosing the least convenient options for your ex Bashing your [...]

On behalf of Morna Challoner of Challoner Law posted in blog on Tuesday, December 5, 2017. California parents often find it difficult to decide to file for divorce. Although the move may be for the best, many couples are understandably worried about how the split will affect their children. Indeed, when parents do part ways, resolving issues concerning child custody usually figures as one of their top priorities. It is no secret that a divorce will have a pronounced impact on any children involved. Research indicates that children of divorce are more likely to experience anxiety and depression than their peers, and are prone to acting out in the months following their parents' break-up. But emerging studies suggest that there are steps parents can take to minimize the incidence of such outcomes. The science is in: 50/50 custody may be best New research that focused on preschool-aged children indicates that joint custody is less emotionally stressful than other custody options. The study involved 3,656 children of divorced parents, all of whom were aged three to five years old. Researchers found that, after a divorce, children who were able to alternate living with their parents exhibited fewer behavioral and psychological problems than their peers who were part of sole custody arrangements. The joint custody children spent approximately the same amount of time with each parent at their respective homes. Past research agrees Many of the previous studies on 50/50 custody focused on older children, mostly adolescents and school-aged kids. While these studies demonstrate that older children greatly benefit when their parents share physical custody, researchers did not believe that the results could translate to young children. Experts presumed that preschool-aged children would require higher levels of stability and continuity than older kids. However, this more recent study seems to suggest that children excel [...]

On behalf of Morna Challoner of Challoner Law posted in Child Custody & Child Support on Friday, September 22, 2017. While co-parenting is not always the easiest or most convenience option for parents, it can be beneficial for the child. Many Santa Rosea area families are blended families. Figuring out how to best raise their child when the child's parents are living separate lives can be tricky. However, a new study shows joint custody can have psychological benefits for children. The study examined over 3500 schoolchildren, aged three to five, of three family situations. Like many families today, many of them were living with both parents at home, some were in a joint custody situation and others have a sole custody situation with one parent. It was found that children living in joint physical custody situations experienced similar levels of psychological symptoms to those in intact families and less psychological problems than those living mostly or only with one parent. The study suggests that there are psychological benefits for children in joint physical custody situations, versus sole custody situations. Not all parents are candidates for joint child custody arrangements. But, for those that are, parents should consider joint custody as a legitimate option as it allows the child to have a relationship with both parents, and according to this study, gives them a better psychological standing. Think about letting bygones be bygones in a joint custody arrangement. But, joint custody is not for every family, so it is good to assess one's options thoroughly before making a decision on how to proceed. There is not a one-size-fits-all when it comes to child custody. In fact, child custody arrangements are meant to be tailored to the people it affects, like the child and the parents. However, best interests of the child always come first [...]

On behalf of Morna Challoner of Challoner Law posted in Child Custody & Child Support on Friday, November 17, 2017. California child custody arrangements arenot a one-size-fits all scenario. This may or may not be a surprise, but families come in all shapes and sizes these days. To adjust for the different family situations, child custody arrangements have continued to get more creative and thus more child-focused to ensure that the best interests of the child are met. This is why if seeking a child custody agreement or if looking to modify an existing agreement that there is a way to plan for a best case scenario. Maybe oneand their child's parent have a very different parenting styles when it comes to child rearing? Or, maybe one's child has special needs that should be addressed within the custody agreement? Whatever the situation, a child custody arrangement can often help to mitigate some of the 'grey area' that can come up when parents are raising a child from separate households. While it can't always plan for the unexpected, it can help to bring clarity and understanding to both parents by outlining their obligations and responsibilities. At Challoner Law, we know how specific challenges can impact the child custody arrangement process. While we value greatly a solution that is in the best interests of the child, we also understand how important it is for a parent's voice and concerns to be heard. We work to ensure that a child custody arrangement is reached that is acceptable and welcomed by our clients, parents and children alike! While this process may at first feel daunting, try to go into it with the belief that the best child custody outcome will be sought. Whatever the challenges presented to you, your child's parent and the child at the heart [...]

On behalf of Morna Challoner of Challoner Law posted in Child Custody & Child Support on Friday, December 8, 2017. In California a court may make an award of child support if pursuant to a custody case one parent is awarded sole custody and the other is awarded visitation. In such a custodial arrangement the child may live exclusively with one of their parents but still get to see the other during arranged periods of time. If a child is under the sole custody of one parent then it is likely that the other parent will be ordered to pay child support. Child support is an important part of making sure a child has what they need after the relationship between their parents ends. Child support may be applied to a number of child-rearing expenses and the remainder of this post will discuss some of the main categories into which child support funds may be applied. First, child support may be used to provide a child with their day-to-day needs. It may be used to buy food or pay for the rent of the residence when the child lives. It can be used to pay utility bills that heat the child's home, keep their lights on and their water running. Child support can be used to buy a child clothing and shoes, pay their medical expenses as well as the fees that apply to their education. Also, child support may be used to pay for care of the child if the custodial parent works. If a child requires a babysitter or other form of supervision to ensure their safety while the custodial parent is at their job then child support may be used to cover those expenses. Finally, child support may be used to pay for a child's entertainment and extracurricular interests. A parent may [...]