Child Visitation
Unfortunately, child custody and visitation issues are often the most contentious and stressful issues considered during the divorce or legal separation process. There are two areas of custody which must be resolved. Legal Custody deals with the rights and responsibilities to make decisions relating to the health, education, and welfare of the children.
Physical Custody (also known as “visitation”) deals with how much time each parent will have with the children. At Gilligan, Frisco & Trutanich, LLP, we’ll always provide our clients with personal attention throughout every step of the process to ensure that the best possible outcome can be achieved.
Our Approach to Child Visitation
Child custody is most often considered by the best interest of the children. When the issue of child custody arises during a divorce or separation proceeding, the court takes a variety of factors into consideration. While every custody case is unique, what the court determines is in the best interest of the children is the most decisive factor in determining a child custody arrangement.
Courts encourage parents to reach a child custody arrangement between themselves. During this tumultuous and highly emotional time, we offer clients competent and compassionate advice that may include employing the use of outside experts in the field to obtain the most favorable custody schedule available while protecting the best interests of the children.
What is Child Visitation?
Unfortunately, child custody and visitation issues are often the most contentious and stressful issues considered during the divorce or legal separation process. There are two areas of custody which must be resolved. Legal Custody deals with the rights and responsibilities to make decisions relating to the health, education, and welfare of the children.
Physical Custody (also known as “visitation”) deals with how much time each parent will have with the children. At Gilligan, Frisco & Trutanich, LLP, we’ll always provide our clients with personal attention throughout every step of the process to ensure that the best possible outcome can be achieved.
Our Approach to Child Visitation
Child custody is most often considered by the best interest of the children. When the issue of child custody arises during a divorce or separation proceeding, the court takes a variety of factors into consideration. While every custody case is unique, what the court determines is in the best interest of the children is the most decisive factor in determining a child custody arrangement.
Courts encourage parents to reach a child custody arrangement between themselves. During this tumultuous and highly emotional time, we offer clients competent and compassionate advice that may include employing the use of outside experts in the field to obtain the most favorable custody schedule available while protecting the best interests of the children.
How Child Visitation is Determined
There are a number of factors that the court takes into account when making a decision about visitation and custody. If the parents are unable to reach an agreement on their own, an Order to Show Cause may be filed to determine a temporary order regarding custody. In many cases, these temporary orders significantly affect the court’s final decision regarding a permanent custody order.
Particularly crucial factors to the court’s determination of the best interest of the children include:
- A child’s age, health, and welfare
- Who the court finds to be the primary parent
- Physical and emotional connections between the parent and children
- Ability of the parent to care for the children
- Amount of time the parent spends with the children
- Current living arrangements
- Any instances of substance abuse or domestic violence
How Child Visitation is Determined
There are a number of factors that the court takes into account when making a decision about visitation and custody. If the parents are unable to reach an agreement on their own, an Order to Show Cause may be filed to determine a temporary order regarding custody. In many cases, these temporary orders significantly affect the court’s final decision regarding a permanent custody order.
Particularly crucial factors to the court’s determination of the best interest of the children include:
- A child’s age, health, and welfare
- Who the court finds to be the primary parent
- Physical and emotional connections between the parent and children
- Ability of the parent to care for the children
- Amount of time the parent spends with the children
- Current living arrangements
- Any instances of substance abuse or domestic violence
FAQs About Child Visitation
What is joint custody?
Joint custody means joint physical custody and joint legal custody. Joint legal custody, joint physical custody, sole legal custody, and sole physical custody all have important distinctions.
What other factors does the court consider when making a custody decision?
When making child custody orders, the court will attempt to come to an agreement that closely follows the children’s living situation prior to divorce or separation.
Does it matter who files for divorce first?
While there may be some advantage strategically to filing for divorce first, the filing order has no bearing on the court’s decision-making process.
Will moving out of state affect my custody case?
Not necessarily. Our team of attorneys has significant experience handling these complex jurisdictional issues and can protect you and your custodial interest if you or the other parent makes a request to relocate.
Our Family Law & Divorce Attorneys
When you’re going through a tough time, you need a full team on your side. Our five-attorney firm has all of the resources to attend to our clients’ needs.
John J. Gilligan, CFLS |
John J. Gilligan, CFLS has practiced family law for 39 years and handled over 7500 family law matters. He sits on the Family Law Executive Committee for the Los Angeles County Bar and donates several hours of his time each month to the court system as a mediator and Judge Pro Tem.
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Janine M. Frisco |
Ms. Frisco’s first preference is always to mediate spousal, financial and custody issues, she is also a staunch advocate for her client’s and a relentless opponent in a court of law. Ms. Frisco regularly litigates complex trials, acts as a mediator for both parties, and collaborates when the parties pursue collaboration.
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Kristin Trutanich |
Kristin Trutanich is a trial attorney with over 13 years of litigation experience. Prior to joining Gilligan, Frisco & Trutanich, Ms. Trutanich was a Deputy District Attorney with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. As a Deputy District Attorney, she tried over 70 jury trials involving domestic violence etc.
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Michael Sarris |
Michael Sarris specializes in California family law with extensive experience in the areas of child support, child custody and visitation, spousal support and community property division. Mr. Sarris founded the Law Offices of Michael Sarris.
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Our Family Law & Divorce Attorneys
When you’re going through a tough time, you need a full team on your side. Our five-attorney firm has all of the resources to attend to our clients’ needs.
John J. Gilligan, CFLS |
John J. Gilligan, CFLS has practiced family law for 39 years and handled over 7500 family law matters. He sits on the Family Law Executive Committee for the Los Angeles County Bar and donates several hours of his time each month to the court system as a mediator and Judge Pro Tem.
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Janine M. Frisco |
Ms. Frisco’s first preference is always to mediate spousal, financial and custody issues, she is also a staunch advocate for her client’s and a relentless opponent in a court of law. Ms. Frisco regularly litigates complex trials, acts as a mediator for both parties, and collaborates when the parties pursue collaboration.
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Kristin Trutanich |
Kristin Trutanich is a trial attorney with over 13 years of litigation experience. Prior to joining Gilligan, Frisco & Trutanich, Ms. Trutanich was a Deputy District Attorney with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. As a Deputy District Attorney, she tried over 70 jury trials involving domestic violence etc.
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Michael Sarris |
Michael Sarris specializes in California family law with extensive experience in the areas of child support, child custody and visitation, spousal support and community property division. Mr. Sarris founded the Law Offices of Michael Sarris.
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Wendy K. Tse |
Family law attorney, Wendy K. Tse, has practiced family law exclusively since 1998. Ms.Tse specializes in and has extensive experience with matters pertaining to California divorce, contested custody disputes, child support, spousal support etc.
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100+ YEARS COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE
Our Law Firm’s History
Gilligan, Frisco & Trutanich, LLP, was co-founded by John J. Gilligan, who has been practicing family law in Long Beach since 1981. Janine M. Frisco is also a partner, as is Kristin Trutanich. Together, they are the area’s most comprehensive legal stronghold.
GFT has helped individuals and their families surmount their legal difficulties for the past several decades. We are proud to serve Southern California, and have the dedication and experience required to handle every type of issue.
The Team of Attorneys
You’ve Been Looking For
Our experienced team of professionals will guide you through life’s murkiest waters. At Gilligan, Frisco & Trutanich, LLP, we have the resources needed to represent clients in all aspects of family and criminal law.
The Team of Attorneys You’ve Been Looking For
Our experienced team of professionals will guide you through life’s murkiest waters. At Gilligan, Frisco & Trutanich, LLP, we have the resources needed to represent clients in all aspects of family and criminal law.
Office
Locations
We have two offices conveniently located in Long Beach & Palos Verdes. We represent clients in courts throughout Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside counties.
Long Beach Office
444 W. Ocean Blvd. Suite 1410
Long Beach, CA 90831
Telephone:(562) 431-2000
FAX: (562) 431-2100
Palos Verdes Office
2516 Vía Tejon, Suite 309
Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274
Telephone: (310) 237-9001
FAX: (562) 431-2100