Disputes over custody and parenting time can be among the most difficult issues parents face when they separate. Whether parents are working out an initial parenting arrangement or returning to court because circumstances have changed, the goal should be a workable arrangement that protects the children and allows both parents to move forward.

I represent parents in Berkeley and throughout the Bay Area in child custody and visitation matters. I have practiced family law for 20 years and have extensive experience both litigating custody disputes and helping parents resolve them without unnecessary court intervention.

Child Custody in California

California custody orders generally address both legal custody and physical custody. Legal custody concerns the parents' authority to make important decisions about a child's health, education and welfare. Physical custody concerns where the child lives and how the child's time is divided between the parents.

There is no single parenting arrangement that is appropriate for every family. A workable custody plan should take into account the child's age and needs, each parent's circumstances, the child's relationship with each parent, school and activity schedules, and the practical realities of the family's life.

When parents cannot agree, the court makes custody decisions based on the child's best interests.

Custody and Parenting-Time Disputes

I advise and represent parents in matters involving:

• Initial custody and visitation orders
• Parenting schedules and timeshare
• Joint and sole legal custody
• Modification of existing custody orders
• Enforcement of custody and visitation orders
• Disputes over education, medical care and other important decisions
• Relocation and move-away issues
• High-conflict custody disputes
• Custody issues involving domestic violence
• Mediation and negotiated parenting agreements

Some custody disputes require court intervention. Others can be resolved through careful negotiation or mediation. An agreement reached by the parents often provides more flexibility and stability than an arrangement imposed by a judge, but settlement is not appropriate in every case.

My approach is to identify the issues that genuinely require litigation and distinguish them from those that can be resolved without it.

Alameda County Custody Proceedings

Parents with custody cases in Alameda County will generally participate in mediation as part of the court process before a judge decides disputed custody or visitation issues.

Understanding that process—and preparing for it—is important. I help clients evaluate realistic parenting arrangements, prepare for mediation and court hearings, and present their position clearly when judicial intervention is necessary.

I also represent parents who already have custody orders but need to modify or enforce them because circumstances have changed or the existing arrangement is no longer working.

A Practical Approach to Custody Cases

Custody litigation can become expensive and adversarial very quickly. More conflict does not necessarily produce a better result.

My background as both a family law attorney and mediator informs the way I approach these cases. When a reasonable agreement is possible, I work toward one. When litigation is necessary to protect a client's relationship with a child or obtain a workable custody arrangement, I am prepared to litigate the issue.

The objective is not simply to win a particular hearing. It is to reach a custody arrangement that works for the child and remains workable for the parents after the court case is over.

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