Los Angeles Child Custody Lawyers
Certified Family Law Specialists defending Los Angeles parents in high-stakes custody battles for 18+ years
They mean everything to you. You want the best for them. The best education, the best healthcare, the safest home. You want them to laugh without worry, to chase big dreams, to feel secure enough to just be kids.
But when custody is in question, you start to worry about how much time you’ll get together, how decisions about their life will be made, and whether they’ll feel caught in the middle.
Led by a Certified Family Law Specialist, we understand this moment, and we’ve guided parents through it hundreds of times. When the dust settles, your child deserves to feel safe, loved, and at home. We take every possible step to protect that.
Thanks to Provinziano’s coaching for my Parenting Plan Assessment (PPA), I was granted joint physical and legal custody of my son. His experience and dedication gave me the outcome I hoped for, and someone I could trust every step of the way.
Los Angeles Child Custody Attorneys
At Provinziano & Associates, we stand with parents across the Los Angeles area who are determined to protect their relationship with their children and ensure their well-being during and after custody disputes.
Whether you’re seeking more time with your child, defending against unfair restrictions, or acting quickly to protect them from harm, our child custody lawyers fight for arrangements that reflect your child’s needs, respect your role as a parent, and comply with California’s custody laws.
The California Custody Framework
California law starts with a simple principle: children do best when they have frequent and continuing contact with both parents, as long as it’s safe and healthy. That principle shapes every custody order, but the court’s main focus is always the same: the child’s best interests.
There are two main parts of custody:
- Legal custody – the right to make important decisions about your child’s upbringing, including education, healthcare, and activities.
- Physical custody – where your child lives and how their time is divided between parents.
The parent who has the child most of the time is called the custodial parent. The other is usually referred to as the non-custodial parent. Even then, both parents may share legal custody, meaning they both help make major decisions.
Custody can be joint — shared between both parents — or sole, where one parent has primary authority or time. Some families have joint legal custody but not joint physical custody, and others create unique arrangements that fit their child’s needs.
Knowing what you want and what will work best for your child is important, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. Our Los Angeles custody lawyers help you understand these factors and build a compelling case for the arrangement that serves your child best.
How Our Los Angeles Child Custody Lawyers Help You
Custody cases aren’t won by chance; they’re built on strategy, timing, and foresight.
Every decision, from the first filing to a simple text with the other parent, can shape how the court views your role and the home you provide. Our role is to anticipate challenges, spot opportunities, and guide you through each step so your actions tell the story you want told—one of stability, care, and unwavering commitment to your child.
Together, we’ll work toward an outcome that protects both your relationship and your child’s well-being.
Child Custody & Visitation Orders
You want to be there for bedtime stories, school pickups, and the moments that shape your child’s life. Whether you’re seeking joint custody, sole custody, or supervised visitation, the goal is the same: to give your child stability and the love of both parents whenever it’s safe and possible.
Our child custody & visitation attorneys help parents design arrangements that work in real life, not just on paper. That means schedules your child can count on, decision-making that’s clear, and enough quality time for you to keep building the bond only you can have with them.
Temporary Custody Orders
Even while your case is still in progress, your child’s life can’t be put on hold. They still need a steady routine, a sense of home, and the comfort of knowing what to expect tomorrow.
We help secure temporary orders that set clear schedules and decision-making authority, so your child has stability today while the long-term plan is decided.
Emergency & Ex Parte Custody Orders
Sometimes, waiting isn’t an option. If your child’s safety or stability is at risk, we move fast to request emergency orders.
Whether you’re seeking urgent protection or responding to unexpected claims, our emergency custody attorneys make sure your child’s needs are front and center.
Custody Relocation & Move-Away Cases
A relocation changes everything—school, friendships, and the relationship between child and parent.
At Provinziano & Associates, our child custody relocation attorneys represent parents who need to move for work, family, or safety, and parents opposing a move that could limit their time or disrupt their children’s stability.
Parental Abduction & Child Recovery
When a child is kept or taken in violation of a court order, every hour counts.
We act quickly through California courts, law enforcement, and, if necessary, international treaties to bring children back to the home and routine the court has ordered.
Enforcement of Custody Orders
A custody order only matters if it’s honored. When the other parent withholds time, changes schedules without agreement, or disrupts your child’s routine, it’s not just frustrating; it can hurt your relationship and their sense of stability.
We take swift legal action to bring the case back before the court, seek remedies like make-up parenting time or sanctions, and work to restore the schedule your child can count on.
Modification of Custody
Life changes. Jobs, schools, and children’s needs evolve. We help parents request or oppose changes to custody orders so the plan matches the reality of your child’s life today, not the way things looked years ago. Your child deserves an arrangement that fits who they are right now.
Special Needs Child Custody
When a child has special needs, custody decisions must go beyond standard schedules. Therapy sessions, medical appointments, specialized schooling, and daily care routines all need to be factored into the plan.
Our special needs child custody lawyers help parents create custody arrangements that meet their child’s unique needs—whether you’re requesting accommodations to ensure their care is consistent, or making sure expectations are realistic and sustainable for both households.
The Provinziano & Associates Difference
We Understand the Sacrifices You’ve Made
You’ve poured time, energy, and resources into giving your child the life they deserve—whether that meant long nights at work or putting your own plans on hold so theirs could move forward. We make sure the court sees the full picture of what you’ve invested in your child’s well-being, and we fight for an arrangement that honors the role you’ve worked so hard to build.
We Treat Your Personal Life With the Discretion It Deserves
While some court records are public by law, we take every possible measure to keep your case as private as the process allows. From how we communicate to how and where we file, to who sees what, we implement confidentiality strategies that ensure only the people who need to know do.
We Help You Anticipate
We help clients anticipate and prepare for each stage of the process. This may include requesting temporary orders, planning for long-term arrangements, tracking changes in parenting time, and documenting shifts in your child’s needs.
We Don’t Just Hear You, We Speak Your Language
At Provinziano & Associates, we believe no one and nothing should be lost in translation. While we primarily speak English, we also support clients in other languages and have many team members who speak a second language. If language is a concern, reach out to ask if we can support your native language.
First Class Litigation
Some cases reach an agreement, others don’t. When your outcome depends on going to trial, our Los Angeles divorce attorneys bring the kind of courtroom skill and strategic focus that comes from years of litigation experience, when negotiation alone isn’t enough.
What Our Clients Say
Are You Ready for a Private, No-Cost Case Evaluation?
With a deep understanding of California family law and over a decade of experience, we’ve successfully resolved every situation imaginable.
Other Practice Areas
Here’s How Our Child Custody Law Firm Works With You
Schedule a Private Case Evaluation
We listen first. You’ll tell us what’s happening, whether you’re seeking more time, responding to a request, facing an urgent safety issue, or looking to adjust an existing order.
After you hire us: Get a clear, custom legal strategy
Once we’re on your side, we dig into the full picture—your child’s routines, each parent’s role, home stability, and what you know is in their best interest.
From negotiations to court, we move with purpose and focus
Whether we’re working toward an agreement or preparing for trial, every step we take is designed to protect your relationship with your child and ensure their stability.
Frequently Asked Questions
on Child Custody in California
How do I find the best child custody lawyer in Los Angeles?
Look for a lawyer with a proven track record in Los Angeles courts, strong client reviews, and experience in the custody issues that matter most to you — whether high-conflict disputes, relocation, or international matters. Choose someone you feel comfortable speaking openly with, who listens without judgment, and understands the importance of protecting your role in your child’s life.
At Provinziano & Associates, we’ve handled hundreds of custody cases, earned awards for our results, and know Los Angeles courts inside and out. We encourage parents to schedule a private case evaluation to see how our approach can protect their parenting role and their child’s future — because the right lawyer for one family may not be the right fit for another.
Is it worth getting a lawyer for child custody?
In our opinion, yes. In California, custody orders determine where your child lives, how often you see them, and who makes key decisions. Without a lawyer, you risk an arrangement that doesn’t reflect your child’s best interests or your role as a parent.
An experienced Los Angeles child custody attorney can explain your rights, gather the evidence they know the court will weigh, and present your case effectively, whether in mediation or trial.
How is child custody determined in California?
In California, custody is decided based on the “best interests of the child” under Family Code § 3011. Judges consider the child’s health, welfare, and safety, any history of abuse, the relationship with each parent, the stability of each home, and each parent’s ability to meet daily needs.
If both parents are safe and capable, courts generally favor arrangements that allow frequent and continuing contact with both parents.
What does a father need to get full custody in California?
Fathers in California have the same custody rights as mothers. To get full custody, a father must show that the arrangement serves the child’s best interests. This may be due to the other parent’s inability to provide a safe, stable home or a history of abuse, neglect, or other issues affecting the child’s welfare.
Full custody isn’t about proving you’re “better” in general; it’s about showing your plan is safest and most stable for your child. A skilled Los Angeles custody lawyer can help present the right evidence and legal arguments.
How does a restraining order affect child custody?
A restraining order — especially for domestic violence — can significantly affect custody in California. Under Family Code § 3044, courts presume it’s not in the child’s best interests to grant custody to a parent with a recent domestic violence finding.
That parent may still get visitation, often supervised, but must prove the arrangement would be safe.
Can a convicted felon get custody of a child?
It depends on the type of felony and the circumstances since the conviction. In California, the court’s top priority is the child’s safety and well-being. Violent felonies, especially those involving domestic violence, sexual abuse, or child endangerment, weigh heavily against custody.
A non-violent felony from years ago may have less impact if the parent shows rehabilitation, stability, and a healthy bond with the child.
When It’s All on the Line, This Is Who Leads the Room
Alphonse Provinziano
Managing Partner & Senior Trial Attorney
With over 2,000 cases and more than 220 trials behind him, Alphonse Provinziano is one of California’s most trusted authorities in complex divorce, custody,
support, and property matters.
- A Former Prosecutor
- Certified Family Law Specialist
- Fellow of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL)
He brings extensive courtroom experience and strategic depth to every high-stakes family law case.
Respected by peers, sought after by clients, and featured in national media, Alphonse also teaches and presents to top family law attorneys across the U.S. and beyond.
Featured in: Bloomberg Law, People, Fortune, Insider, Fast Company, Newsweek, LA Times, The Mirror, and more.
Meet Alphonse Provinziano
Meet
Alphonse Provinziano
Managing Partner & Senior Trial Attorney
Featured in: Bloomberg Law, People, Fortune, Insider, Fast Company, Newsweek, LA Times, The Mirror, and more.
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