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LONICH PATTON EHRLICH POLICASTRI
1871 The Alameda, Suite 400, San Jose, CA 95126
Phone: (408) 553-0801 | Fax: (408) 553-0807 | Email: contact@lpeplaw.com
LONICH PATTON EHRLICH POLICASTRI
Phone: (408) 553-0801
Fax: (408) 553-0807
Email: contact@lpeplaw.com
1871 The Alameda, Suite 400
San Jose, CA 95126
Located in San Jose, Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri handles matters for clients in northern California, specifically San Jose and Silicon Valley. Our services are available to anyone within the following counties: Santa Clara, San Mateo, Contra Costa, Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito, and San Francisco. For a full listing of areas where we practice, please click here.
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How Far Can A Parent Move With Joint Custody
/in Family Law /by Mitchell EhrlichWhen you share joint custody with your ex, the idea of a big life change such as moving can be scary. The results can be uncertain and what will happen is at the discretion of a judge. If you are the parent of a child and want to move away or if your ex wants to relocate and move the child with them, what’s next? How far you can move with your child is determined by many factors.
Joint Custody & Parental Relocation
If you are planning to relocate with your child, you should know about the process you’ll need to go through to legally relocate. There are steps that you must go through to get approved for relocating your child in the case of joint custody. The main takeaway is that the judge must find the move in the best interest of your child(ren).
When a joint custody order is already in place, parental relocation is considered a modification by the court. This means that it is a requested change to the existing order. In California, a move-away modification is necessary if a parent plans to move 50+ miles away from their local residence, although, in large, unclear areas, this can be less.
The current parental schedule will be considered when approving or disapproving the modification. The modification can be filed by the parent looking for permission to relocate, or by the remaining parent who wishes to update the custody agreement so that they don’t lose time with their child(ren). When parents share joint custody, the court has a lot more to consider in determining if the move-away can happen. The courts must decide that the move is not harmful to the child in any way in order to approve it.
Many things matter when it comes to whether your child will be allowed to relocate with you, and how far you can relocate:
You can work with a lawyer to file for a modification to your joint custody agreement. The distance you can move can only be determined by a judge. They can help you gather documents and evidence to support that the move is in the best interest of the child. They can also work with your ex to try and come to an agreement to the custody order that you both are satisfied with, which you can then take to court for approval.
If you live in San Jose, Santa Clara, or the surrounding communities, contact Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri for a free consultation. Our experienced attorneys offer complimentary 30-minute virtual consultations to clients. Set yours up here.
What Is A Restraining Order & How To Get One
/in Family Law, Personal /by Riley PenningtonNobody should have to live in constant fear of another person. Yet physical or emotional abuse is not uncommon, and many people are often left unsure of how to protect themselves. Fortunately, there are legal processes that can protect you from having to deal with harassment, abuse, or being stalked. If you are fearful for your or your loved ones’ safety, then it is essential that you know how to get a restraining order, which is the first legal step in protecting your safety.
A restraining order(RO) is a legal order that a protected person can file against the restrained person in order to prevent them from taking harmful actions towards the protected person. The protected person may also name other people such as their children or relatives to be protected as well.
Before filing a restraining order, it is important to determine what you want the restrained person to be prohibited from doing. There are three types of restrictions that may be placed on a restrained person. A person may file for all three types of restrictions, depending on the severity of the abusive relationship.
How to Get a Restraining Order(RO)
Before filing a restraining order in California, you need to determine which type of RO you need. The type of restraining order depends on the nature of the relationship with the restrained person. You must select one of the four of the following types of restraining orders when filing.
In order to get a restraining order in California, you or your restraining order attorney must complete and file the legal court documents to begin the RO process. When you file the paperwork you should bring legal identification and any paperwork related to the restraining order such as past filings or paperwork associated with an emergency protective order.
Once the documents are complete, you must file the paperwork with the courthouse. In Santa Clara County, Domestic violence restraining orders are free, as well as civil harassment restraining orders if an act of violence has occurred. However, if no acts of violence have occurred, then there will be a fee for filing the civil harassment restraining order. If your income is low, you may want to bring pay stubs so that you may qualify for a fee waiver.
Once the paperwork is filed, a temporary restraining order may be granted until the date of the court hearing. During the court hearing, the judge will review the evidence and determine if further protection is necessary. The judge may grant protection for up to five years, at which point the protected person may file for a new restraining order.
There are incidences, however, in which the protected person is in danger and needs immediate protection. If you face an immediate threat to your safety, you may call the police to help remove the restrained person from your vicinity. The police may then file an emergency protective order which lasts for five to seven days, allowing you or your lawyer the time to file a temporary restraining order at the courthouse.
If you live in San Jose or the surrounding Bay Area and need help acquiring a domestic violence restraining order, contact one of our experienced attorneys today. We offer free 30 minute consultations. Set yours up here.
How To Help A Loved One Experiencing Domestic Violence
/in Family Law, Personal /by Virginia LivelyMillions of Americans are the victims of domestic abuse yearly. It’s likely that you have either faced it yourself or have a loved one who has. But what about your loved ones who are currently experiencing violence? How do you help them? If you’re noticing signs of domestic violence, or if your loved one has confided in you, there are steps you can take to help. Learn what you can do from an experienced domestic violence lawyer.
Signs of Domestic Violence
If you suspect that your friend or family member is experiencing domestic violence, there are some signs you can look for. Some are more obvious than others. You might notice…
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to warning signs of domestic abuse. If your loved one hasn’t confided in you that they are being abused, there are certain ways to handle the situation, and it must be done delicately.
Supporting Your Loved One
Your first instinct may be to get the help of the police or a domestic violence lawyer. While this is necessary in the eventual resolution of the situation, this isn’t always the right, first step. Often, many victims of domestic violence are not ready to confront the fact that they are victims. They may have a lot of shame around the situation, and abusers often make their victims feel that they are at fault for their own abuse.
Don’t begin by telling them they are being abused and how they should handle it, although this may be your first instinct. Instead, start by expressing concern in a safe, private place away from the abuser. Listen to and support your loved one, and believe what they have to say. Do not be judgemental in any way. You need to validate them and remind them that they do not deserve to be hurt and that they are not to blame. That is so important, as they may feel it is their fault. Work to build up their self-esteem by reminding them of their worth and all of their positive qualities. For them to take the first steps towards leaving the situation, they need to believe they deserve to leave. Help them rebuild a support system. Abusers work to actively isolate their victims and drive their loved ones away so as to maintain control over their victim. By encouraging and helping your loved one rebuild those connections, you are building a strong foundation to support them when they leave. Ultimately, you need to put the power in your loved one’s hands. You need to remind them that they are strong and that they call the shots. Reminding them of their power can lead to the eventual will power they need to stand up for themselves and leave an abusive situation.
Getting Help
When your friend or family member has decided that they are ready to take the next step in leaving a bad situation, you should have the resources to help them. You want to know what to do ahead of time so that you can get them out of the situation as quickly as possible and as safely as possible. You will want the number of your local domestic violence helpline. You will also need to reach out to them ahead of time to learn about resources they have to offer.
You may also want to have the contact number of a domestic violence lawyer who can help in setting up a DVRO (domestic violence restraining order). They can also assist in pressing charges. You want an attorney who has extensive experience in the field of domestic violence, and who can handle the case delicately and discreetly. If your loved one is married to their abuser, a domestic violence lawyer can also aid in divorce litigation – especially if children are involved. In these matters, where there is a lot of hostility, you need an aggressive attorney who can work tirelessly to get justice for your loved one and their children, and to safely extricate them from a violent situation.
Courts tend to favor the interests of the abused spouse, and typically take accusations of abuse very seriously, especially if children are involved. If you have questions about what qualifies as domestic abuse in a court of law, and what your next steps should be in helping your friend, there are a couple resources you can use…
Domestic Abuse Intervention Services
National Domestic Violence Hotline
https://www.thehotline.org/help/help-for-friends-and-family/
LPEP Law – Domestic Violence Lawyer
https://www.lpeplaw.com/family-law/domestic-violence/
If you are based in or around San Jose, you can set up a free 30-minute consultation with one of our domestic violence attorneys here. We believe victims and actively work to create a safer, healthier life for victims and their children.
Parental Relocation & The Stay At Home Order
/in Family Law /by Michael LonichAs we all know, divorce/separation is a highly emotional event – especially when children are mixed into the fray. Combine that with the shelter in place (SIP) order we have in Santa Clara County and things start to become extremely stressful and volatile. If you’re unsure how to win a parental relocation custody case, especially during COVID-19, this article and a parent’s previous experience in San Jose winning full custody during the pandemic, might be of help to you.
Many times during a divorce/separation, new job opportunities, economic hardships, and other various difficulties may arise. As a result, one or both parents may need to relocate to a different city or state, transporting their children along with them to the new place of residence. Even during these uncertain times, family law courts are opened for the process of new applications and court dates. And while parents can often come to an agreement based on what’s in the best interest of their child, sometimes it’s just not possible for both parties to reach a consensus. If it comes to this point, professional legal representation is highly recommended. At least for the case of Steven Agnew from San Jose, California, this was true- he won full custody of his daughter, for the time of the shelter in place (SIP) order. The main argument used by him and his attorneys was the health of his daughter, and a judge agreed with this thought.
Under California state law, a parent who has sole custody typically has the right to move with their children unless the other parent can demonstrate that it would cause harm to said children. But if parents have joint custody and one parent challenges the other parent’s relocation, the parent who wants to move must show that it will be in the best interest of the children. With all that said, custody orders and visitation guidelines are not always completely clear. In California, judges often have few guidelines to follow, so the state tries to treat each case on a unique basis. Because of this, it’s important as a parent to seek legal advice from an expert parental relocation lawyer to ensure you get the desired outcome regarding your children’s future.
International parental “move-away” issues can be especially contentious and convoluted. Our team at Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri takes exceptional consideration to ensure a meaningful, continued relationship between the noncustodial parent and child is preserved. If a custodial parent decides to violate any of the visitation obligations, we understand and acknowledge the civil aspects of international child abduction in respect to the Hague Convention. We have attorneys that have experience in the 9th circuit of the supreme court and are extremely prepared for any matter, no matter what complexity.
The end goal here is to ensure that the best interests of the children are served, while also making sure that both parents are able to maintain a continuing relationship with the children. We understand that a loss of contact with one parent can be detrimental to a child’s wellbeing.
Here at Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri, our family law attorneys have more than 100 years of combined litigation and trial experience and an extensive background working on parental relocation and move away issues. Our team also has considerable experience in handling child custody matters concerning foreign nationals. These Parental Relocation Lawyers are on standby in San Jose, ready to help you learn how to win a relocation custody case. Please contact our office to schedule your free 30-minute Parental Relocation Consultation by calling (408) 553-0801 or signing up online here. All consultations will be done virtually due to COVID-19 regulations and for the safety of our partners and our clients.
How a Domestic Violence Restraining Order Can Affect Child Custody
/in Family Law /by Mitchell EhrlichDealing with a child custody arrangement is one of the most stressful experiences parents may face. When one of the people fighting for child custody or visitation rights has a domestic violence restraining order, the case is significantly more complicated and almost always requires a qualified child custody attorney to ensure that the children receive an outcome that is in their best interests.
Understanding Custody Arrangements
Before discussing how a domestic violence restraining order affects custody, it is important to understand legal terminology regarding custody. There are two types of custody:
Both types of custody can be full, in which one person is the main decision-maker or caretaker, or joint, in which two people share the legal rights regarding decision making or the responsibility of providing a home.
Understanding a Domestic Violence Restraining Order
A domestic violence restraining order (DVRO) is granted when a judge determines that a person has committed or threatened to commit abuse against someone that they have a close relationship with. This includes relationships such as:
In other words, a judge issues a DVRO when they determine that someone is a threat to another person that they are close to. A person must file a DVRO against someone for a judge to legally issue it. Any DVRO can affect a child custody case, whether it is against the other parent or any of the aforementioned people. Any history of violence is reason for concern in a court’s eyes.
How Domestic Violence Restraining Orders Affect Custody
Domestic violence is different than child abuse because the victim must be older than 18 years old. However, research shows that domestic violence can negatively affect children, especially when they witness the abuse. In some cases, the emotional impact of children who experience domestic violence in their homes can be similar to those of children who are abused and neglected.
Due to the mental and emotional effects that domestic violence has on children, judges typically will not award custody to the person with the DVRO if they determine that the domestic abuse is likely to occur again.
Parents with a DVRO are often only granted limited visitation rights, which are strict schedules or rules regarding when they can legally visit their children. Often parents may not visit the children as frequently as they wish, only can visit the children with the supervision of a third party, or are not allowed to have the children spend the night at their house.
How Someone With a DVRO May Obtain Joint or Full custody
This does not mean that a parent facing a child custody case with a DVRO should not develop a strong case. There are situations in which a judge may grant full or joint custody to a parent with a history of a DVRO. Factors that a judge considers are when the DVRO was issued, the behavior of the person since the DVRO, if the person completed all of their court-ordered programs, and the living environment of the other person fighting for custody.
In all custody cases, the interests of the child are the judge’s main priority, and it is their job to do their due diligence when assessing the parents’ fit for custodial rights. This means that even though one parent has had a DVRO issue, they may still be the best option for custodial rights. Judges do consider the length of time that has passed since the DVRO and understand that with proper treatment, some people can dramatically improve their behavior and become fit to be a caregiver.
If someone with a record of a DVRO awarded within the past five years wants full or joint custody of their children, the judge will consider the following seven factors:
The judge will use the aforementioned factors to determine custodial and visitation rights. If you are the victim of domestic violence or have a history with a DVRO, and are facing a child custody case and need advice, our lawyers at Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri offer free, 30-minute consultations to assess your unique needs. All consultations will be virtual due to COVID-19 in order to maintain the safety of our partners and our clients.
Our experienced trial lawyers at LPEP are some of the most reputable child custody attorneys in the San Jose and Silicon Valley areas. Schedule your free consultation online here.