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Child Custody Site Map (View Full Virtual Self Help Law Center Site Map) For Everyone Before Going to Court About Custody and Visitation When You Can Ask for Custody Making a Parenting Plan Asking for Help During a Child Custody Case Starting a Custody Case Agreeing or Needing a Judge Court Help If No Agreement After the Counseling Session A Week Before Court Checklist for Court Date What to Expect in Court Child Custody Evaluations After the Court Hearing Court Paperwork Right Away If the Situation Changes How to Change an Order How to Respond to Request For the Petitioner Before Going to Court About Custody and Visitation When You Can Ask for Custody Making a Parenting Plan Asking for Help During a Child Custody Case Step 1: Get Your Court Forms A - If Getting a Divorce B - If Establishing Parentage C - If Domestic Violence Case D - If Not Part of Another Case Step 2: File Your Papers at Court Step 3: Give Other Party Copies Step 4: Tell Court: Copies Given Agreeing or Needing a Judge Court Help If No Agreement After the Counseling Session A Week Before Court Checklist for Court Date What to Expect in Court Child Custody Evaluations After the Court Hearing Court Paperwork Right Away If the Situation Changes How to Change an Order How to Respond to Request For the Respondent Before Going to Court About Custody and Visitation When You Can Ask for Custody Making a Parenting Plan Asking for Help During a Child Custody Case Step 1: Get Your Court Forms Step 2: File Your Papers at Court Step 3: Give Other Party Copies Step 4: Tell Court: Copies Given Agreeing or Needing a Judge Court Help If No Agreement After the Counseling Session A Week Before Court Checklist for Court Date What to Expect in Court Child Custody Evaluations After the Court Hearing Court Paperwork Right Away If the Situation Changes How to Change an Order How to Respond to Request For the Child Forms for Child Custody If Custody in a Divorce Case If Custody in a DV Case If Custody in Parentage Case If Opening a New Case Proof of Service Fee Waiver Frequent Questions Do I Need a Lawyer? About Custody and Visitation What is Child Custody? Who Can Get Custody? Who May be 'Parents'? Why to Other than a Parent? When Can You Ask for Custody? Living Arrangement Choices? When Can a Child Choose? Who Pays the Costs? If One Parent Not Around? If a Parent in Other State? If a Parent in Other Country? If There is Violence or Abuse? When Does Custody End? About Parenting Plans What is a 'Parenting Plan'? Deciding Physical Custody? Deciding Legal Custody? Living Arrangement Choices? Deciding Holiday Schedules? If Child Not Feeling Well? Supervised Visitation? Kidnapping/Abduction Issues? About Custody Counseling What is Custody Counseling? How Does Counseling Work? Who are the Counselors? Worried About Violence? Is Counseling Confidential? Support for Difficult Cases? Can Others Attend Counseling? How Long Counseling Lasts? About the Court Process What if it's an Emergency? Can't Afford the Court Fees? Don't Want to Go to Court? Can't Attend a Hearing? Court's Primary Concern? Can I Have a Witness? Can a Child Address Court? Assistance for a Disability? Changes After Orders Issued Change Parenting Plan? If a Parent Wants to Move? How to Get Order Enforced? Stopping Support if No Visits? Can Restrictions be Changed Later? What if a Parent is Gone? Specific Information for Contra Costa County Family Law Facilitator Ways to Communicate Court-Based Self-Help Services Legal Aid Agencies and Other Non-Profits Government Agencies Lawyer-Referral Services Dispute Resolution Programs More Resources and Links SITE MAP