California Child Custody 

Either party may be awarded custody. The court may award joint legal custody, joint physical custody, or sole custody, with no preference for any arrangement. The decision will be based on the best interests of the child. When deciding on custody, the court will consider the following criteria.

1. The health, safety and welfare of the child(ren);
2.  Any history of abuse by one parent or any person seeking custody who has a blood relationship, or close affinity with the child(ren); the other parent; or a parent, current spouse, or cohabitant of the parent or person seeking custody, or a person with whom the parent or person seeking custody has a dating or engagement relationship;
3. The nature and amount of contact with both parents; 
4. The habitual or continual illegal use of controlled substances or habitual or continual abuse of alcohol by either parent (with independent corroboration of these allegations);

For more information about the other criteria that affect custody and an evaluation of your case contact the Law Offices of Matthew J. Gonsalves