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At Pines Laurent, LLP, in Studio City, California, we are devoted to family law issues of divorce, custody, property division and support, representing men and women throughout the San Fernando Valley, the Santa Clarita Valley and all of Los Angeles County, including Los Angeles, Studio City, Universal City, Sherman Oaks, Tarzana, Woodland Hills, Calabasas, Northridge, Simi Valley, Valencia, Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, Beverly Hills, Chatsworth, Porter Ranch, Granada Hills and Valley Village.

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SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE & RESTRAINING ORDERS

HIGH NET WORTH & COMPLEX PROPERTY DIVISION

DIVORCE IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTY

Pines Laurent, LLP

4400 Coldwater Canyon Ave.

Suite 220

Studio City, CA 91604

Phone: 818-505-8900

Fax: 818-505-9005

NAVIGATION KEY:

818-505-8900

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Child Custody and Support

Meeting Your Child's Needs and Protecting Your Legal Interests

Child Child custody determinations encompass two separate issues: legal custody and physical custody. If you and your child’s other parent cannot agree upon custodial issues, you need experienced attorneys who specialize in this area of law and who can guide you through the process of obtaining custody orders that suit your child’s best interest. Call the attorneys at Pines Laurent, LLP for expert advice on all your child custody issues.

Legal Custody

Legal custody involves decision making authority and responsibility over matters concerning health, education and welfare of the children. These issues include, but are not limited to:

enrollment in or leaving a particular private or public school or ? daycare center
participation in particular religious activities or institutions
beginning or ending of psychiatric, psychological, or other mental health counseling or therapy
selection of a doctor, dentist, or other health professional (except in emergency situations)
participation in extra-curricular activities
out of country or out of state travel
authorization to obtain driver’s license

Generally, each parent will be entitled to have access to the children’s school, medical and dental records and the right to consult with professionals who are providing services to the children. However, even when parents share joint legal custody (meaning that they will share in the right and responsibility and confer in good faith concerning decisions related to legal custody issues), for parents of children with special needs, it is often necessary and/or desirable to designate one parent as having special decision-making authority with regard to more specific issues. That is because the parents are simply unable to agree upon these important matters.

These issues may include whether the child is assessed for Regional Center services eligibility and/or for an I.E.P. (Individualized Education Plan) and determination of what services may be provided to the child as part of those assessments. Other issues might include whether the child will take medication and/or must adhere to a special diet. Methods of discipline, homework routine, and the need for social skills or other specialized group training may also be issues the parent are unable to agree upon.

If you and your child’s other parent are having difficulty agreeing on legal custody issues concerning your children, you should consult with experienced family law attorneys regarding these issues. The Certified Family Law Specialists at Pines Laurent, LLP are here to help. Call us at (818) 505-8900 to set up a consultation.