Family Law Attorney in Santa Clarita 

When parents separate or divorce, one of the hardest and most emotional topics to navigate is child custody. In California, custody simply refers to who has the rights and responsibilities when it comes to raising and caring for a child.

Every family is different and there’s no one way for custody arrangements to look. Understanding the difference between legal custody and physical custody can make the process feel less overwhelming.

What is Child Custody?

In California, child custody includes two main types of parenting after separation:

Legal custody is the right and responsibility to make important decisions about your child’s health, education, and overall welfare.

Physical custody is where your child lives and who provides their day-to-day care.

Both types of custody can be joint, meaning shared between parents, or sole, meaning granted only to one parent.

Legal Custody: Making Major Decisions

Legal custody refers to who makes the big life decisions for your child. These can include choices shaping the child’s future such as the child’s education and school enrollment, medical care and treatment, counseling or therapy, religious or cultural practices, and extracurricular activities.

With joint legal custody, both parents share the right and responsibility to make these major decisions together. This arrangement works best when both parents can communicate effectively and keep one another informed and involved.

With sole legal custody, only one parent has the authority to make major decisions for the child. The other parent may still be informed or consulted, but they do not share equal decision-making power.

Physical Custody: Where the Child Lives

Physical custody is about your child’s living arrangements, where they spend most of their time, and who provides daily care and supervision.

Joint physical custody means your child spends meaningful time with both parents. This does not always mean an exact 50/50 schedule. California law focuses on ensuring that children have frequent and continuing contact with both parents whenever it’s healthy and practical.

Sole physical custody, sometimes also referred to as primary physical custody, means your child primarily lives with one parent. The other parent (often called the non-custodial parent,) may have visitation rights or scheduled parenting time under a court order.

Quick Summary

• Sole Legal Custody: One parent has the exclusive right to make major decisions.

• Joint Legal Custody: Both parents share decision-making responsibilities.

• Sole Physical Custody: The child primarily lives with one parent.

• Joint Physical Custody: Both parents share physical time, though not necessarily equally.

How Custody Is Decided

In family law, every custody case is unique. Courts make custody decisions with one goal in mind: protecting the health, safety, and emotional well-being of the child.

When determining custody, the courts consider numerous factors, including the child’s age, health, and needs, each parent’s ability to provide care, stability, and support, the relationship between the child and each parent, any history of abuse, neglect, or substance use, the child’s preference (depending on their age and maturity,) and each parent’s willingness to cooperate and co-parent respectfully.

While California courts do not automatically favor joint custody, shared arrangements are often encouraged when they serve the child’s best interests. However, if there are safety concerns or practical challenges, such as one parent living far away, the court may find that sole physical custody is more appropriate.

Custody arrangements shape how parents share responsibilities legally, emotionally, and practically. Knowing what each type of custody means helps you make informed decisions such as child support obligations, school enrollment and access to educational records, medical decisions and healthcare access, tax claims and dependency exemptions, and relocation requests (for example, if one parent wishes to move away with the child.)

Conclusion

At the heart of every custody case is the guiding principle of what is in the best interests of the child. Whether you’re seeking joint custody, requesting a modification, or simply trying to understand your rights, having clear information helps you plan confidently for your child’s future.

If you have questions about custody or need guidance tailored to your family’s situation, our firm is here to help. We approach every case with experience, empathy, and a commitment to your family’s well-being. Contact our office today by calling 661-255-1800 or email office@chromanlaw.com.

Meeting with a family law attorney for the first time can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re unsure of what to expect or what to bring. Whether you’re preparing for a divorce, custody dispute, support modification, or any other family law issue, taking a few simple steps before your initial consultation can make the process smoother and far more productive. The more organized you are, the more efficiently your attorney can understand your situation and start building a plan tailored to your goals.

What the Initial Consultation is Really For

Your initial consultation is the first step toward understanding your legal options and finding the right attorney for your needs. Consider this first meeting as a two-way conversation. Your attorney uses this time to learn about your circumstances, identify key issues, and discuss possible strategies, while you have the opportunity to ask questions and decide whether the attorney and firm are the right fit for you. During this meeting, your attorney may ask detailed questions about your marriage, finances, and family dynamics, explain the general legal process and potential timelines for your type of case, or outline what documents or information will be needed to move forward. The goal of the initial consultation is for you to leave feeling informed, supported, and confident going forward.

What to Bring

Bringing relevant paperwork to the initial consultation allows your attorney to provide accurate, personalized advice from the very beginning. If possible, consider preparing copies of the following:

1. Financial documents: These materials give your attorney a clearer picture of your financial landscape, which is crucial in matters involving property division, spousal support, or child support.

For example, pay stubs, tax returns, bank and credit card statements, retirement and savings account information, and any documentation of debts or loans.

2. Legal documents: Providing these documents helps your attorney quickly assess where your case stands and what will come in the future.

For example, marriage certificate, prenuptial or postnuptial agreements, prior court orders, or any filings already submitted to the court.

3. Property information: These documents help identify marital and separate property, ensuring your attorney can properly evaluate any potential division issues.

For example, deeds, mortgage statements, vehicle titles, and insurance policies.

4. Information about children: For custody, visitation, and support matters, bring parenting schedules, prior custody or support orders, and relevant communications (texts, emails, etc.) about co-parenting or child-related decisions.

Questions You Might Ask

Before your meeting, take time to think about your main concerns, priorities, and ideal outcomes for your case. The initial consultation is meant to help you feel more prepared and confident as you move forward. Some questions you may consider asking during your initial consultation are:

A Few Basic Details to Have Ready

In addition to documents and questions, come prepared with general details such as your contact information, your spouse or co-parent’s information, dates of marriage and separation (if applicable,) names and birthdates of any children, or current living arrangements or custody schedules.

These basic details help your attorney quickly form a clear picture of your case and streamline the process following your consultation.

Final Thought

Preparation is the key to a productive initial consultation. The more organized and honest you are with your prospective family law attorney, the better equipped they’ll be to protect your interests and develop a strategy that aligns with your goals.

At The Law Offices of Steven B. Chroman, P.C., we handle a wide range of family law matters, including divorce, custody, support, domestic violence, and more, each with the compassion and expertise they deserve. If you’re ready to schedule your initial consultation, contact our office today. We’ll help you prepare, understand your options, and take confident steps toward the best possible outcome for you and your family. Call our office at 661-255-1800 or email office@chromanlaw.com.

California family law doesn’t stay the same for long. Laws are passed every year that change how courts handle divorce, custody, and domestic violence cases. In 2026, three major updates will kick in. They’re meant to make the system more responsive to safety concerns and the real-world challenges families deal with in court.

Together, these changes create two themes: making divorce easier when both sides agree, and making the rules around firearms and domestic violence even tighter.

Joint Divorce Filings

Right now, divorce in California starts with one spouse filing and then serving the other. Even if both people agree it’s over, the law still makes them go through that extra step. It adds time, money, and a lot of formality to something that doesn’t always need it.

Starting January 1, 2026, Senate Bill 1427 (SB 1427) changes that. Couples who both agree can file a joint petition for divorce or legal separation. Filing together means no one has to serve the other and both parties are treated as if they’ve already appeared in the case.

That doesn’t mean the road will always stay smooth. If disagreements pop up later, either spouse can cancel the joint petition and move back into the traditional process. SB 1427 simply gives couples who are on the same page a direct path forward. Less paperwork. Fewer delays. And the option to fall back on the old system if things don’t stay cooperative.

Firearm Exemptions in DVRO Cases

In California, the law requires that anyone subject to a domestic violence restraining order (DVRO) usually has to give up their firearms. In the past, however, courts have granted exemptions for work-related reasons, such as for those who are peace officers or security personnel, sometimes allowing continued possession for purposes of employment.

Starting January 1, 2026, Assembly Bill 2759 (AB 2759) makes those exceptions much harder to get. From now on, an exemption can only be granted if the person isn’t already prohibited under state or federal law from owning a gun in the first place.

The law also raises the standard for peace officers. It now applies specifically to sworn peace officers, and courts have to make two findings before granting an exemption:

• The officer’s personal safety depends on carrying a firearm outside of work hours, and

• The officer doesn’t pose an added threat to the protected party or the public.

For other jobs that require carrying a firearm, exemptions are still possible, but only if reassignment isn’t an option and the court finds no extra risk. And even then, any exemption has to be reviewed when a permanent restraining order is issued and again if it’s renewed.

AB 2759 makes it clear that safety comes first. Employment needs can’t outweigh the risk of putting firearms back into the hands of someone under a DVRO.

Domestic Violence, Custody, and Firearms

Custody disputes involving domestic violence are guided by Family Code § 3044. The law says there’s a presumption against giving custody to a parent with a history of abuse. Judges could already look at whether that parent had violated firearm restrictions under Family Code § 6389 when deciding if the presumption should stand.

Starting January 1, 2026, Senate Bill 899 (SB 899) makes the review even broader. Courts can now also consider firearm violations under Code of Civil Procedure § 527.9 and Penal Code § 18120.

This essentially means that judges will now have a wider lens to evaluate whether a parent who’s committed domestic violence should be trusted with custody, specifically when firearms are involved. SB 899 strengthens California’s stance that child safety in custody matters always comes first. By expanding the scope of firearm violations courts must weigh, the law doubles down on protecting children in custody disputes where domestic violence is already a factor.

Conclusion

The family law changes coming in 2026 clearly show that California is trying to make the family law system both faster and safer. These reforms aren’t necessarily about adding more rules for the sake of it. They remove significant barriers where cooperation exists and add safeguards where danger does. It’s California’s latest step toward a family law system that better matches the realities families face every day.