Child Custody & Support Guidance You Can Trust

Child Custody Lawyer in Simi Valley

Serving Parents Throughout Ventura County Since 2000

Custody and support matters put everything that matters most on the line. At Dallara Law, we’ve helped thousands of clients navigate family law since 2000, and we understand that parents in the middle of a custody dispute need two things at once: calm, clear guidance and an attorney who is fully prepared when the process gets contested. We bring both. Whether you’re working toward a cooperative parenting plan or heading into a disputed hearing at the Ventura County Superior Court, we work to protect your relationship with your child at every stage.

Our attorneys serve clients throughout Simi Valley, the Conejo Valley, and Ventura County. We answer questions as they come up, return calls and emails reliably, and stay accessible throughout the entire process, not just at the start and finish. Free initial consultations are available so you can understand your options and next steps before committing to anything.

What Parents in Simi Valley Can Expect From Our Firm

Custody cases are stressful in ways that are hard to prepare for. We walk clients through the process step by step in plain terms, so you know what’s happening and what comes next. When you raise a concern, we address it directly rather than dismissing it. When the realistic outcome isn’t what you were hoping to hear, we say so honestly, because decisions made on clear information hold up better than decisions made on false reassurance.

We also help clients think carefully about whether going to trial actually serves their family’s goals. Litigation carries real costs, financial and emotional, and we speak openly about when it makes sense and when it doesn’t. When a hearing is unavoidable, we prepare aggressively: reviewing every document carefully, building a clear plan of action, and arriving ready. Clients describe us as approachable, honest, and thorough. That’s the standard we hold ourselves to on every case.

Call (805) 456-1066 to schedule a free consultation. We serve clients throughout Simi Valley, the Conejo Valley, and Ventura County.

Legal Custody vs. Physical Custody in California

California recognizes two distinct types of custody, and both matter to your rights as a parent. Legal custody is the right to make decisions about your child’s education, healthcare, religious upbringing, and general welfare. Physical custody governs where the child lives and how much time each parent spends with them. Either type can be awarded jointly to both parents or solely to one, and it’s possible to hold one type without the other. The practical impact on your daily role as a parent depends on which arrangements are in place.

Joint Custody vs. Sole Custody: What California Courts Consider

California courts favor joint custody arrangements because they preserve each parent’s relationship with the child. Joint physical custody gives both parents significant time with the child. Joint legal custody means both parents share decision-making authority. The guiding standard for every custody decision is the best interests of the child, and courts apply that standard when evaluating any proposed arrangement.

Sole custody becomes the outcome when evidence shows that one parent poses a risk to the child’s safety or well-being. Grounds that can support a sole custody award include neglect, abuse, domestic violence, substance abuse, serious mental health issues that impair parenting, or criminal activity. Courts also weigh each parent’s willingness to support the child’s relationship with the other parent, the stability of each proposed home environment, and how the arrangement will affect the child’s schooling and social ties.

What Goes Into a Parenting Plan?

At the conclusion of a custody proceeding, California requires both parents to formalize the arrangement in a parenting plan. This document records the custody structure, the visitation schedule, and the logistics that will govern the co-parenting relationship going forward. A well-constructed plan doesn’t just cover the basics. It anticipates practical issues like holiday exchanges, transportation, make-up time, and schedule changes, so you’re not returning to court every time circumstances shift.

A complete parenting plan must address the following:

Communication between parents — How you and your co-parent will coordinate on matters involving the child
Emergency decision-making — Who has authority to act when urgent issues arise
School placement — Where the child will attend school and how education decisions are made
Healthcare providers — Who the child’s doctor and dentist are and how medical decisions are handled
Religious upbringing — Whether and how faith will be part of the child’s life, if applicable

The Ventura County CCRC Process

When a party files a request for custody or visitation orders in California, Family Code Section 3170 requires that Child Custody Recommending Counseling (CCRC) be scheduled. CCRC is a mediation process conducted through the Ventura County Superior Court’s Family Court Services division. A trained counselor with a background in mental health, child development, or family law meets with both parents to help them reach a child-centered resolution.

Ventura County is a recommending county. If parents can’t reach agreement during the CCRC session, the counselor submits a written recommendation to the judge, and that recommendation carries significant weight in the final custody determination. How you present yourself and your position in that session matters. Parents new to the process must complete a free online orientation before their scheduled session. In-person attendance is the default. Remote participation requires advance approval from the judicial officer or Family Court Services manager.

We prepare clients thoroughly before CCRC sessions, helping you understand what to present, how to frame your concerns around your child’s best interests, and what to expect from the recommending counselor’s process. Going in prepared can make a real difference in how the session unfolds.

Modifying an Existing Child Custody Order

A custody order can be modified, but the legal standard is specific. You must demonstrate that there has been a significant and material change in circumstances since the original order was made, and that the proposed change serves the child’s best interests. A change in circumstances alone isn’t enough. Common grounds for modification include a parent’s relocation, a shift in the child’s needs, changes in a parent’s work schedule, or a co-parent’s repeated failure to comply with the existing order.

One point that trips up many parents: even if both of you privately agree to a new arrangement, it doesn’t take legal effect until a court issues a new order. We handle custody modifications and help clients present the evidence required to meet the legal standard. Whether you’re seeking the change or responding to one filed against you, we can help you build a clear, credible case.

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Where Ethics Meet Excellence

See What Sets Dallara Law Apart

Client-Focused Care

Each client receives personalized care and tailored legal strategies, ensuring your unique circumstances and goals are fully understood and addressed.
Experience With Integrity

Dallara Law is built on a foundation of professionalism and ethical practice, ensuring clients receive honest, transparent advice without the typical lawyer stereotypes.
Collaborative Solutions

We intentionally foster teamwork among our legal professionals, drawing on diverse expertise to provide comprehensive solutions for clients.
Prioritizing Peaceful Resolutions

Committed to minimizing conflict and celebrating solutions, we emphasize mediation to save you time, stress, and costs associated with trials.

Meet Our Dedicated Team

Child Support in California

California law makes both parents financially responsible for their child until the child turns 18, or until 19 if the child is still enrolled full-time in high school and hasn’t yet graduated, whichever comes first. When parents are divorced or raising their child separately, the court establishes how that responsibility is shared. In most arrangements, the parent who provides the majority of the child’s care receives child support from the other. That support is meant to cover the child’s essential needs, including housing, food, education, and healthcare, so the child’s standard of living isn’t undermined by the separation of their parents.

How Ventura County Courts Calculate Child Support

California uses a statewide guideline formula to calculate support amounts, and Ventura County courts apply that formula by considering the following:

Both parents’ income and tax filing status
The custodial arrangement and which parent has the greater share of parenting time
The number of children covered by the order
Additional expenses such as extracurricular activities or special medical care

Courts retain some discretion to weigh factors beyond the formula. The goal is an amount that reflects each parent’s actual financial capacity while meeting the child’s needs consistently.

Enforcing Child Support Orders

When a co-parent fails to make court-ordered child support payments, you have legal options. California law provides several enforcement mechanisms, including wage garnishment, property liens, suspension of a driver’s or professional license, and in serious cases, jail time. Pursuing enforcement typically requires filing a motion and presenting evidence of non-payment to the court.

We assist clients in taking enforcement action when payments aren’t being made, whether that means filing the necessary court motions, presenting evidence of non-compliance, or negotiating directly with the non-paying parent to resolve the arrears. If you aren’t receiving the support your child is owed, contact our child support attorneys to understand what recourse may be available to you.

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Ready to Talk Through Your Custody or Support Situation?

Whether you’re just beginning to think through a custody arrangement or you’re already in the middle of a contested dispute, Dallara Law can help. We work closely with clients at every stage, from initial questions through hearings at the Ventura County Superior Court, developing strategies tailored to each family’s situation and goals. Thousands of families have trusted Dallara Law. We serve clients throughout Simi Valley, the Conejo Valley, and Ventura County and welcome you to reach out for a free consultation.

Call (805) 456-1066 or submit our online contact form to schedule a free consultation.

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