California law treats both parents equally in custody cases. Fathers have just as much right to seek custody or visitation as mothers. The court will not favor one parent based on gender. Instead, it will focus on the best interests of the child.
Still, it’s not uncommon for fathers to face assumptions, especially if they haven’t been the primary caregiver. That’s why having a strong legal advocate is so important. We help fathers present clear, compelling cases that highlight their involvement, their caregiving abilities, and their importance in their child’s life.
Child custody is divided into two categories in California: legal custody and physical custody. Both are important—and both can be pursued by a father.
Legal custody gives a parent the authority to make major decisions about a child’s education, healthcare, religion, and general welfare. Courts often award joint legal custody, giving both parents equal decision-making power. In some cases—such as when a parent is absent or has a history of neglect or abuse—sole legal custody may be appropriate.
Physical custody refers to where the child lives. Joint physical custody means the child spends significant time with both parents. Sole physical custody means the child primarily lives with one parent while the other may have scheduled visitation.
Fathers can pursue primary or joint physical custody, depending on the child’s needs and the father’s ability to provide a stable home. If you’re seeking to establish or increase your parenting time, our attorneys can help.
For unmarried fathers, establishing paternity in Los Angeles is essential before pursuing custody or visitation. Without legal paternity, a father has no enforceable rights—even if he’s been involved in the child’s life.
There are two ways to establish paternity in California:
Once paternity is legally established, the father can request child custody, parenting time, and child support orders through the court.
Divorce can complicate a father’s relationship with his children, especially if the other parent is uncooperative. During a divorce case, fathers should be aware of their rights:
Our child custody attorneys help fathers assert these rights and avoid being sidelined during custody negotiations.
A parenting plan outlines how parents will share time and responsibilities after separation or divorce. Courts prefer that both parents work together to create a plan that supports the child’s needs. But when agreement isn’t possible, the court will step in and make decisions.
Our firm helps fathers negotiate parenting plans that include:
If the other parent is refusing to cooperate or attempting to limit your access, we will fight to secure a parenting schedule that keeps you actively involved.
California law requires both parents to financially support their child. Contrary to common assumptions, child support obligations are not automatically placed on fathers.
If you are the custodial parent, you may be entitled to receive child support payments from the other parent. If you’re paying support but experiencing financial hardship or spending more time with your child than the order reflects, you may be able to request a modification.
We help fathers:
Child support should never be used as a weapon in custody disputes. If you believe the current arrangement is unfair or needs to be revisited, our law offices are ready to assist.
Many fathers come to us facing significant barriers in their custody cases. Some of the most common include:
If you’re navigating one of these challenges, our fathers’ rights lawyers can help protect your relationship with your child and push back against unfair treatment in the family court system.
False accusations of domestic violence can have serious consequences in custody cases. If you’ve been accused, it’s crucial to act quickly and secure legal representation.
Family courts take these allegations seriously and may limit or deny custody rights until the issue is resolved. We provide fathers with experienced legal defense against wrongful accusations and work to restore parenting time when possible.
If there is a legitimate history of abuse, the court may issue supervised visitation or deny custody. In either case, your rights and your child’s safety matter. We help fathers address these sensitive issues with care and legal precision.
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Life circumstances change. You may change jobs, relocate, remarry, or face new parenting challenges. When that happens, you can request a modification of the existing custody or visitation order.
Valid reasons for modification include:
We help fathers seeking more time with their children or needing to adjust existing arrangements due to life changes. Courts are open to modification requests when they support the interests of the child.
Yes. California law treats both parents equally. The court will not favor one parent based on gender but will evaluate the case based on what serves the child’s best interests, so fathers have the same rights as mothers.
Yes, though it is less common. A court may award sole custody to a father if the mother is unfit, unavailable, or unwilling to co-parent in a way that supports the child’s wellbeing.
You may still establish paternity through a court process and seek custody, visitation, and legal rights.
Yes. If you are the custodial parent or your income is significantly lower, the court may order the child’s other parent to make child support payments.
If your current parenting schedule doesn’t reflect your role in your child’s life, we can help you petition for increased time by showing your involvement, stability, and commitment.