These days, people find themselves working more and more to ensure success in their career. In addition, having a “side hustle” is only becoming more and more common as the cost of living continues to skyrocket. While a busy work schedule is a great way to help you maintain financial stability and ensure continued professional growth, the unfortunate reality is that family law courts might not view your dedication to work quite so favorably.

There are a variety of factors that go into play when a family law court hands down any decision relating to child custody and visitation arrangements. This post examines how the courts assess parents who work a lot or have a very involved professional life. Remember that this is no substitute for personalized legal advice from a qualified professional. If you have any additional questions, remember to reach out to us directly at the White Oak Law.

How Your Work Schedule Can Impact Child Custody in California

These days, working towards career growth or a promotion, or simply juggling multiple jobs is all-consuming and exhausting. This places you at a disadvantage even before the court proceedings unfold, as your work schedule can interfere with the custody arrangements and legal battle itself. The less time that you have to prepare and dedicate to this complex legal procedure, the higher that the odds are likely to stack against you.

As for the family law courts themselves, they will always prioritize decisions that are in the best interests of the child. What this means is that they’ll examine factors such as each parent’s ability to provide for the child’s needs, the relationship that the child has with each parent, the environment at each home, and other ways in which a parent is able to fulfill all physical and emotional needs. This means that an unavailable parent, or one who is always locked away at work, could be regarded in a negative light that favors a parent who works less and is always “around.”

Count on a Trusted California Family Law Attorney

As a busy and overworked parent, proving that you’re able to provide and be available to your child can be an uphill battle in California. That said, if you’re able to effectively demonstrate that your work schedule does not interfere with your parental duties in any way, you can effectively circumvent this issue. Remember, the courts aren’t looking to penalize working parents.

This is why, when it comes to any matters involving child custody and visitation in California, you cannot afford to proceed without first recruiting the assistance of a qualified legal professional. If you’re seeking professional legal advice on any of these matters, or if you’re navigating any other type of family law matter in California, remember that we at the White Oak Law are here to help.

Give us a call at our office to schedule a initial consultation with one of our experienced California family law attorneys.