California Child Custody Mediators

Securing Your Child’s Best Interests through Mediation

After a couple decides to separate, their relationships with their children are almost always a primary concern. They may disagree on who should have primary custody, or about how much visitation each person should have.

Are you and your spouse trying to establish a child custody agreement that works for both parents and, most importantly, the best interests of the child? Our team of A.D.S. Certified Mediators can help.

Child Custody Mediation – Helping Establish a Parenting Plan that Works for Everyone

Our Certified Mediators understand the struggle and emotional weight that comes with divorce of any kind, but in particular those that involve children. It is important to us that we be able to help our clients come to a mutually beneficial agreement that protects each parent’s rights and gives children a sense of stability and allows them to maintain a loving and healthy relationship with each parent.

Our Certified Mediators provide clients with information on custody matters of all kinds, including:

• Custody mediation
• Parenting plans
• Custody rights
• Parent relocation
• Post-judgment modifications

How is Child Custody Determined in California?

• The health and age of the child
• The relationship the child has with each parent
• Each parent’s ability to care for the child
• The child’s involvement within school and the community
• Whether or not there is a history of substance abuse
• Whether or not there is a history of domestic violence

How Co-Parenting Works

When parents decide on a joint custody arrangement, both parties agree that they will consult in advance on important issues such as religion, education, healthcare, and recreation to ensure that these issues do not cause friction later. Benefits of this shared arrangement include greater freedom and flexibility in your schedule, such as for socialization. However, it can certainly take time and practice to implement rules and disciplinary measures that are consistent across both households.

The key to making this system work is advance planning. Our Certified Mediators can help you and your co-parent build an agreement that outlines activities, establishes methods of sharing information, and provides tools for problem solving and addressing major decisions.

The Parenting Mediation Process

Our mediation process is designed with three primary goals in mind:

• To build a parenting plan, tailored to the family’s needs, that is in the best interests of the children
• To create a plan that gives children time to build and maintain meaningful relationships with both parents
• To help parents address and move beyond feelings of resentment or anger