Beverly Hills Interstate Child Custody Lawyer

Interstate Child Custody Attorney in Beverly Hills, CA

Sharing custody with your child’s other parent can be an adjustment for everyone. When you and your child’s other parent don’t live in the same state, it can be even more challenging. Creating an interstate child custody agreement is key to a successful shared custody arrangement. Coming to an agreement that works for everyone can be difficult. It takes careful planning and cooperation by both parents. A Beverly Hills interstate child custody lawyer can help.

Hire an Interstate Child Custody Lawyer Who Knows Interstate Child Custody Laws

Benefield Faulk Law – Family Law Trial Advocates P.C. has been in practice for over 20 years. During this time, we have provided Beverly Hills families with exceptional family law legal services. As an ‘Elite Advocate,’ our founding attorney represents the top 1% of family law attorneys in California. Our firm is unique for our information-based approach. Family values are important to us, and finding solutions for families is our passion.

Interstate Child Custody Laws

California is one of 49 states that has adopted the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA). These laws aim to unify child custody across state lines. When all states have the same laws and rulings regarding child custody, it prevents forum shopping. This term refers to parents moving with their child to a more lenient state to take advantage of laws that better serve their interests. The act also addresses the following common interstate child custody case issues:

• Defines which state has jurisdiction
• Explains how to enforce child custody orders across state lines
• Informs on how parental abduction should be handled
• Gives temporary emergency jurisdiction to another state when a child is abducted by a parent and believed to be in danger

One of the biggest dilemmas with interstate child custody cases is determining which state has jurisdiction. According to the UCCJEA, the rule of thumb is that the child’s home state has jurisdiction. The definition of home state is the state that the child has lived in for six months or longer before the interstate child custody case was opened. Jurisdiction means the state has the authority to order or modify child custody.

The allowance for emergency jurisdiction was included to protect children. Still, if your child’s other parent has taken your child to another state without proper custody orders, you must act fast. Waiting too long, like six months or more, to hire an interstate child custody lawyer can transfer the entire case to another state.

Addressing Interstate Child Custody and Parental Alienation

Parental alienation occurs when one parent manipulates their child to dislike or reject the other parent. In interstate child custody cases, parental alienation can occur more easily. The distance makes it easier for the alienating parent to block communication between the child and their other parent, prevent visitation, and even hide the child’s location from their other parent.

In California, parental alienation is taken seriously by the courts. California acknowledges just how harmful parental alienation can be to a child’s emotional and social well-being. It is also a violation of court orders, which must be enforced for the interstate child custody system to work.

A Beverly Hills interstate child custody attorney can help you get your custody order enforced or modified. They can also advise you on seeking reunification therapy or penalties against your child’s other parent from the court.

An experienced interstate child custody attorney is not only familiar with California interstate child custody laws but also has a long-standing rapport with the Beverly Hills Superior Courts that oversee these cases. Beverly Hills interstate child custody cases are handled through the courts located at both the downtown Los Angeles Stanley Mosk Courthouse on North Hill Street and at the Santa Monica Courthouse on Main Street in Santa Monica.

FAQs

How Does Custody Work Across State Lines?

Custody across state lines is governed by the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, or the UCCJEA. This is a federal law that defines how states are to handle interstate custody cases. It requires that custody orders initiated by a child’s home state be followed and enforced by other states where the other parent resides. Parents who do not follow court-ordered interstate child support can be held in contempt of court and face criminal charges.

Can a Mother Take a Child Out of State Without Father’s Consent in California?

No, it is not ok for a mother to take a child out of state without the father’s consent. Whether or not there are custody orders, there still must be consent. The mother can be charged with child abduction, which, under the UCCJEA, can give temporary jurisdiction to another state if it is in the interest of the child’s safety. An interstate child custody lawyer in California can advise you in this situation.

What Is the Biggest Mistake in a Custody Battle?

In an interstate custody battle, the biggest mistake the alienated parent can make is not acting fast enough to prevent a transfer of jurisdiction to another state and/or parental alienation from occurring. For all parents involved in a same-state or interstate child custody case, the biggest mistake you can make is communicating, either verbally or with your actions, your negative emotions against your child’s other parent. This is parental alienation and can be emotionally devastating for your child.

What Is the 3 Parent Law in California?

The 3-parent law in California refers to California Family Code 7612. This law allows the court to recognize a third party as a parental figure in a child’s life if doing so is in the interest of the child. If a child has been in a stable and nurturing home with a recognized third-party parental figure, even if it is not the child’s biological parent, it could harm the child to be removed from the family unit.

Connect With a Knowledgeable Beverly Hills Interstate Child Custody Lawyer

Interstate child custody cases require much more refined legal skills than regular child custody cases, especially if parental alienation or child abduction is involved. Don’t miss the crucial window necessary to effectively stop these acts without doing greater damage to your child. Contact Benefield Faulk Law – Family Law Trial Advocates P.C. and speak to a results-oriented Beverly Hills interstate child custody attorney to start legal action that can prevent your interstate child custody situation from worsening.