Parental Rights Attorney in Sacramento

Advocating for Families in Sacramento & Surrounding Areas

At Kaslan & Pike, LLP, we understand that nothing is more important than your relationship with your children. When legal matters arise that could impact that bond, the stakes feel incredibly high. 

While you may be worried about the future, know that you do not have to fight this battle alone. Our team works hard to protect what matters most. We provide families in Sacramento with straightforward, honest guidance focused on safeguarding your parental rights and upholding the well-being of your children through divorce, separation, or other family transitions.

At Kaslan & Pike, LLP, you don’t just get a single attorney; you get our entire firm. Our team works together on your case, combining our knowledge and perspectives to build thoughtful, effective strategies. We believe in creating authentic relationships built on integrity and open communication, treating every client like family. This collaborative approach means your case receives the full attention and diligence it deserves.

Your parental rights represent the foundation of your future with your child, allowing you to make crucial decisions and share meaningful time together. We stand with you whether you are creating a new parenting plan, seeking to modify a current court order, or working through a complex custody dispute. Our approach is to pair strong, principled advocacy with genuine compassion, always focused on building a stable and positive path forward for you and your children.

To discuss your case with a parental rights attorney in Sacramento, call us at (916) 957-1302 or contact us online to arrange a virtual consultation.

Understanding Parental Rights in California

In California, every decision a court makes about children is guided by a vital principle: the child's best interest. The law operates on the belief that a child’s well-being is best supported by maintaining a strong, healthy relationship with both parents. 

Your parental rights and responsibilities are put into practice through custody and visitation orders. These court-approved agreements create a legally sound framework that provides stability and clarity for your co-parenting relationship.

Legal Custody

Legal custody is the authority to make significant, long-term decisions about your child’s upbringing. This includes choices regarding their healthcare, education, and general welfare. California law favors joint legal custody, which encourages both parents to participate in making these critical decisions together, fostering a cooperative co-parenting dynamic.

Physical Custody

This determines the child's primary residence and living arrangements. Physical custody can be structured as "sole," where the child lives mainly with one parent and has scheduled visits with the other, or "joint," where the child spends significant and frequent time living with each parent.

Visitation (Parenting Time)

A visitation schedule, often called a parenting plan, outlines the specific times the child will be in each parent’s care. Creating a clear, consistent, and predictable schedule is a positive step that provides children with stability and helps prevent future conflicts between parents.

The Importance of Establishing Parentage

Legal parentage must be established before a court can grant custody or visitation rights. For married couples, the law often presumes the husband is the father of a child born during the marriage. However, for unmarried parents, a father's rights are not automatic. Establishing parentage, or paternity, is the critical first step for an unmarried father to gain legal rights and responsibilities for his child. It is also essential for a mother who is seeking to obtain child support.