Pasadena Child Custody Attorneys

Experienced Child Custody Lawyers Serving Families in Los Angeles County, CA

SPECIAL NOTICE on DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: During the COVID-19 pandemic shelter-at-home period, reports of domestic violence, also called interpersonal violence, have risen significantly.

Call 911 if you need immediate help!

If you face abuse from your partner, seek qualified, compassionate legal help to secure the protection you need. Gille Kaye Law Group, PC stands ready to get your case heard—even during periods of court shutdown. If you need help or law enforcement advises you to file, send us a message using the form on this page to schedule a confidential legal consultation regarding domestic violence. We respond within 24 hours.

You have the right to protect yourself. 

You do not need to stay with your abuser because of coronavirus stay-at-home orders!

PARENTING EXCHANGES during the CORONAVIRUS COVID-19 PANDEMIC:

Many parents have asked about visitation arrangements during the COVID-19 shelter-in-place order and government shutdowns. We continuously monitor guidelines and court orders from government and courts at state, county, and local levels. Our general guidance for visitation when there are prior court orders is as follows.

Regular, unmonitored visitation in California continues based on existing court orders. Parents and caregivers should practice social distancing, hand washing, surface cleaning, and maintain appropriate isolation when necessary with proper notice. Refusing to exchange a child typically applies only if someone in the household is diagnosed with coronavirus or has been told to isolate by a medical provider for probable infection. Notice of illness and non-exchange should provide enough time so parents can discuss the situation or consult lawyers or minor’s counsel if disagreements arise.

Los Angeles County family law courts, including the Pasadena Courthouse, have issued updates on procedural changes and protocols during emergencies. These courts prioritize family and child safety, making timely legal adjustments when public health events impact local families. Our team monitors these developments and helps you understand how local changes could affect your child custody or visitation arrangements during uncertain times.

Each case differs, and guidance can shift day to day. Call or send us a message using the form on this page to discuss your specific parenting needs and determine whether you should seek a visitation modification or follow existing orders.

Learn why you should hire us to protect your and your child's rights by calling (626) 340-0955 or by contacting us online. Our experienced Pasadena child custody attorneys can help.

Protect Your Rights as a Parent: Call (626) 340-0955 Now

At Gille Kaye Law Group, PC, our dedicated child custody attorneys in Pasadena help all parties involved in contested custody disputes understand and design age-appropriate parenting plans for settlement or trial. If you face a child custody matter, you need support by your side. Our combined experience and practical work as minor's counsel for children allow us to help clients pursue positive outcomes for their children. Our legal team works diligently to pursue results that your child deserves.

How Our Pasadena Child Custody Attorneys Can Help

• Our child custody attorneys provide outstanding representation to parents who are trying to protect their children's best interests.
• Our legal team includes:
  • Christine Gille, a Certified Family Law Specialist (CFLS) with 31 years of experience.
  • Lloyd Kaye, a custody and property attorney with 20 years of business experience before practicing law.
• Christine Gille is frequently court-appointed as Minor's Counsel for children and is also sought by other attorneys as a consultant on difficult custody issues for their clients.

We understand the processes and resources specific to Pasadena and the greater Los Angeles area, which may include local mediation options and child-centered support programs that can impact custody outcomes. With knowledge of these guidelines and practices, we provide guidance in line with how local family law courts operate and decide these cases.

Put Decades of Collective California Child Custody Experience on Your Side

Attorney Christine Gille has significant experience with child custody cases and can help you work toward your desired results. Many couples achieve negotiated agreements for custody or visitation.

For Pasadena parents, working with a child custody lawyer familiar with Los Angeles Superior Court—including local filing rules and scheduling—can improve communication and case progress. Whether the Pasadena Courthouse or another division handles your case, our team's familiarity with court clerks, local timelines, and judicial preferences helps you move efficiently through the process.

If you and a former partner cannot negotiate a child custody agreement, we represent your and your children's interests during settlement or litigation. Your rights and privileges as a parent matter, and you deserve legal protection. Call our Pasadena child custody attorneys at (626) 340-0955 for a consultation. We guide you every step of the way.

Understanding Child Custody Rights in California

When parents separate, many negotiate visitation schedules successfully. Some parents need support to resolve custody, visitation, and support disputes. These issues may become urgent when there is domestic violence, claims of negligence, or when one parent believes the other uses their relationship with the child against them. In these situations, knowing your options is crucial. A child custody lawyer from our Pasadena team can provide the legal support you need.

What to Expect in a Pasadena Child Custody Hearing

If you prepare for a child custody hearing in the Pasadena area, you can expect the Pasadena Courthouse to apply both state law and Los Angeles Superior Court procedures. Both parents usually participate in a mediation session through Family Court Services to try to create a parenting plan before appearing before a judge. When mediation does not lead to agreement, the court schedules a hearing. During this hearing, the judge reviews testimony, considers school and community circumstances, and examines evidence about each parent’s home environment and ability to meet the child's needs.

Since Pasadena is part of Los Angeles County, families sometimes encounter extra scheduling requirements or access court-connected support resources unique to the region. An experienced child custody attorney in Pasadena prepares necessary documentation and explains the court’s local preferences for custody arrangements. Entering a hearing with a clear sense of process gives parents confidence and keeps the focus on the child’s best interests.

How Do Judges Decide Custody in CA?

In California, judges must put the children's best interests first and typically lean toward joint custody. This arrangement allows the child to maintain strong relationships with both parents. The judge’s decision considers each parent’s ability to care for the child's safety, health, and general well-being.
Judges look at the following factors:

• Any existing risk to the child's health or safety
• The criminal history of parents
• History of abuse between parents or to the child
• Degree of change to the child's environment
• The co-parenting skills of the parents
• The preference of an older child

In Los Angeles County child custody cases, judges may also review information from local child custody evaluators, social workers, or mediators with direct knowledge of Pasadena families. These professionals provide insight about a family’s circumstances, school details, and available support. Judges use both evidence and local context to craft custody orders that protect the child's well-being.

Except where a true threat to the child's safety exists, judges tend to favor joint custody. If you feel your co-parent cannot safely raise your children, seek out a skilled attorney who can help you present your circumstances clearly to the court.

Types of Child Custody in California

There are different types of child custody that your family must consider:

Legal custody allows a parent to make major decisions regarding the child’s welfare, education, and health.

• Physical custody determines the child's primary residence.

Families in the Pasadena area often create arrangements based on proximity to schools, jobs, and local community resources. Such arrangements address daily routines and transportation—important considerations given Los Angeles County's size and traffic challenges.

If parents cannot work together for their children’s best interests, the judge creates a court order to resolve disputes. Speak with us about custody complexities in your divorce or parentage case so you can meet your child’s needs. Our Pasadena child custody attorneys focus on protecting the health, safety, and welfare of your children.

We help families determine which custody plan best serves the child's interests today and for years to come.

Modifying & Enforcing Child Custody Orders in Pasadena

Families' needs can change over time, and existing custody orders may no longer serve the child’s best interests. In Pasadena, parents can ask the court to modify or enforce child custody orders when circumstances change. Reasons for requesting a modification may include a parent's move, shifts in work schedules, or changes in a child's education or well-being. The court evaluates whether these changes affect the child's best interests. If one parent is not following the order—such as denying visitation or not sharing important decisions—the parent seeking enforcement can ask the Pasadena Courthouse for assistance. Judges in Los Angeles County expect both parents to comply fully with the existing order until the court approves a modification.

A legal team familiar with California family law and local court expectations helps ensure you address modifications or enforcement effectively. Our attorneys advise on how Pasadena judges process these requests and what documentation clarifies the need for a change or enforcement.

Demand Excellence from Your Legal Representation

Navigating divorce or parentage cases requires making choices that could shape your family's future for years. Because disputed child custody cases carry high stakes, demand excellence from your Pasadena child custody lawyer.

If your case involves local issues—like the Pasadena Unified School District or local supervised visitation providers—attorneys who know these organizations can help you work through requirements or processes more smoothly. Understanding how school records or neighborhood activities impact the court’s schedule can make a difference for your family.

Read what our former clients and colleagues have to say about us:

• "Christine helped me move to the east coast with my two boys. She was so thorough in her preparation of my evidence that we did not have to have an evaluation before we moved."
• "Christine helped us come to a fair final settlement without the expense of trial. We were able to get over our fighting on the few issues we could not resolve on our own because of Christine's sense of timing, her insistence that we make a little progress every time we spoke, and her great staff."
• "She was professional, a thorough investigator, and a compassionate advocate for the needs of the children of my clients. If the court appoints this lady, your client's children will be well represented!"

Creating a Parenting Plan for Child Custody Cases

Creating a solid parenting plan is essential in any child custody case. A parenting plan guides co-parenting and keeps the child’s best interests front and center at every step.

Pasadena courts and those throughout Los Angeles County encourage detailed parenting plans to minimize future disputes and provide clarity for children. These plans address both legal and practical issues. Parents who spell out clear solutions for holidays, school breaks, and transportation in their plans tend to face fewer misunderstandings after court orders are in place.

Our experienced Pasadena child custody attorneys can help you design a parenting plan that covers key issues, including:

• Visitation schedules: Setting a schedule so both parents enjoy meaningful time with the child while accounting for school, holidays, and special occasions.
• Decision-making authority: Determining how important choices about education, healthcare, and religious upbringing are made. We design a plan that protects your parental rights and reflects your preferences.
• Communication guidelines: Clarifying methods and expectations for communication between parents, including response times, to support effective co-parenting.
• Dispute resolution: Outlining steps for resolving disagreements, which may include mediation or professional help, to resolve conflicts early and minimize stress on the child.

Work with our child custody lawyers in Pasadena to create a thorough, fair parenting plan in the best interest of your child. Contact us to schedule your consultation and protect your rights as a parent.

Hire a Compassionate Pasadena Child Custody Lawyer Today

Child custody cases are complex and highly contested legal matters. Do not proceed through a contested case without proper support.

Parents in Pasadena can access unique local resources for support, like counseling services, child psychologists, or court-connected mediation programs at the Pasadena Courthouse. Using these resources may help both parents create lasting parenting arrangements that meet area standards and court expectations.

Our child custody attorneys in Pasadena know the workings of Los Angeles County family courts. We use that experience to help you understand your custody options and the importance of having a clear parenting plan or visitation schedule. Our legal team will keep you informed of every case development. This ensures you and the other parent make empowered decisions that benefit your family’s health and your children’s future.

Call (626) 340-0955 for Advice from a Certified Family Law Specialist

If you seek a fair custody arrangement or want to protect your parental rights, speak with our Pasadena child custody attorneys. We offer guidance, support, and discretion as you navigate this challenging time, with insightful legal advice to help you make informed decisions.

Our Pasadena child custody attorneys are proud to serve families in Los Angeles County and will stand by you and your child's best interests.

Contact us today to discuss your case in an initial consultation!  
Fill out our case evaluation form or call us at (626) 340-0955 to speak with us directly.