Custody & Visitation
Child custody issues are among the most heart-wrenching concerns a parent will experience during and after a divorce. Whether you need to reach an amicable oral or written agreement regarding custody and visitation or you require legal counsel to modify an existing arrangement due to a change in circumstance, Hughes & Hughes will make sure you and your children are properly represented for the best possible outcome.
The team at Hughes & Hughes represents a collection of unique experiences: many are parents, some are even children of divorce, yet each is a highly-trained litigator with the compassion and dedication necessary for reaching an agreement that restores normalcy to the home. With some of the most experienced and skilled practitioners on child custody cases in Orange County, we possess deep knowledge of California family laws regarding parenting and custody, successfully representing hundreds of clients.
The latest addition to the Hughes & Hughes team, Principal David Wald, has made landmark contributions to the area of custody law. In 1995, Wald successfully litigated a groundbreaking case in which the court awarded full child custody of a three-year-old female to the father, at a time when custody was overwhelmingly granted to mothers. This is the kind of innovative representation you will have on your side as a client of Hughes & Hughes.
Because we are intimately aware of how long, drawn-out court battles can have devastating impacts on parents and their children, our attorneys work hard to provide your family with creative, committed, and caring representation to help you reach your custody or support goals quickly. We are focused on maximizing your time at home with your children and minimizing your time in court. Our clients often receive positive custody and support settlements without court intervention.
Issues involving child support, visitation, and custody status are among our specialties. Your legal team at Hughes & Hughes will be by your side, making sure you and your children are awarded the custody arrangements and support agreements you deserve.
To read an article featuring Lisa Hughes as an expert on the impact of divorce on children in OC Family, click here.
Custody, Visitation & Paternity Resources
A resource to answer all your questions.
FAQS Regarding Child Custody Investigation
This article contains frequently asked questions regarding what happens and how it will affect you, when a judicial officer orders a child custody investigation, in your case. There are several approaches to child custody investigations, the two most common are an Evidence Code §730 Investigation and a Court Ordered Child Custody Investigation. During an Evidence Code §730 Investigation, you or your attorney request a judicial officer to order an investigation, in your case, to help that judicial officer better understand what is in your child or children’s best interests. A Court Ordered Child Custody Investigation, the subject of this article, occurs when the judicial officer, on his or her own volition (and sometimes at the urging of counsel), orders an investigation, conducted by court personnel. A judge will order this type of investigation when he or she feels that such an investigation is required to resolve complex issues or to clarify allegations. These Frequently Asked Questions are provided courtesy of Family Court Services.
Law Help California
Self help resources and court program locator regarding issues of custody and visitation.
List of supervised visitation agencies
Contact information for nonprofit organizations that can provide you access to visitation.
What Should I Know About Divorce and Custody?
A State Bar of California pamphlet.