FL-313-INFO Child Custody Information Sheet--Recommending Counseling Parents who come to court about child custody and parenting time (visitation) face decisions about parenting plans for their children. This information sheet provides general information about child custody and parenting time matters, how to get help resolving a custody dispute or making a parenting plan, where to find an attorney, and where to find other resources. What is a parenting plan? A parenting plan describes how the parents will divide their responsibilities for taking care of their child. The plan may include a general or specific schedule of days, times, weekends, holidays, vacations, transportation, pick-up/drop-off, limits on travel, counseling, and treatment services, and other details. What are legal and physical custody? A parenting plan usually includes: · Legal custody: how parents make major decisions about the child's health, education, and welfare; · Physical custody: where the child lives; and · Parenting time, time-share, or visitation: when the child spends time with each parent. Legal custody and physical custody may each be specified as joint (both parents have certain responsibilities) or sole (one parent has the responsibility alone). Can we make our own parenting plan? Yes. You have a right to make a parenting plan agreement on your own. This agreement may be called a stipulation, time-share plan, or parenting plan. If both parents can agree on a parenting plan, the judge will probably approve it. The agreement becomes a court order after it is signed by both parents and the judge, and filed with the court. What if there is domestic violence or a protective order? If there is domestic violence or a protective order, talk with an attorney, counselor, or child custody recommending counselor before making a parenting plan. For domestic violence help, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (TDD:1-800-787-3224) or call 211 if available in your area. What if we don't have a parenting plan? If you can't reach an agreement, the court will refer you to family court services (FCS) for child custody mediation also called "child custody recommending counseling." At the appointment, you will meet with an FCS professional also called a "child custody recommending counselor." He or she will help you and the other parent reach an agreement about a parenting plan. What is child custody recommending counseling with family court services? Family court services (FCS) provides child custody recommending counseling (sometimes referred to as child custody mediation) to help parents resolve disagreements about the care of their child. The child custody recommending counselor will meet with you and the other parent to try to help you both make a parenting plan. There may be an orientation provided that offers additional information about the process. If you are unable to reach an agreement after meeting with family court services, the child custody recommending counselor will make a written recommendation to the court about a parenting plan. You and the other parent and the attorneys (if any) will get a copy of the recommendation before the court hearing. If you are concerned about meeting with the other parent, or there is a domestic violence issue or a protective order involving the other parent, you may FL-313-INFO, Page 1 of 2 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com Judicial Council of California, www.courts.ca.gov New January 1, 2012, Optional Form Child Custody Information Sheet-- Recommending Counseling FL-313-INFO Child Custody Information Sheet--Recommending Counseling ask to meet alone with the child custody recommending counselor without the other parent. You may also request to have a support person with you. The support person may not speak for you. Do we have to agree to a parenting plan when we meet? No. You do not have to come to an agreement. When the parents can't agree, the judge will decide. For legal advice, contact an attorney. For other information, ask the self-help center or family court services about how the process works in your court. Are there other ways to resolve our dispute? Yes. You may try other alternative dispute resolution (ADR) options, including: 1. Meet and Confer: Parents and their attorneys (if any) may meet at any time and as often as necessary to work out a parenting plan without a court hearing. If there is a protective order limiting the contact between the parents, then the "meet and confer" can be through attorneys or a mediator in separate sessions. 2. Settlement Conference: In some courts, parents may meet with a judge, neutral evaluators, or family law attorneys not involved in the case to discuss settlement. Check with the local court to find out if this is an option. If there is a protective order, the settlement discussion can be through attorneys or a mediator in separate sessions. 3. Private Mediation: Parents may hire a private mediator to help them resolve their dispute. 4. Collaborative Law Process: Each parent hires a lawyer and agrees to resolve the dispute without going to court. The parents may also hire other experts. Court Hearing When the parents cannot agree to a parenting plan on their own, in child custody recommending counseling, or in any other ADR process, the judge will decide. If there is domestic violence or a protective order, a parent may be able to bring a support person with him or her to the court hearing, but the support person may not speak for that person. Where can I get help? This information sheet gives only basic information on the child custody process and is not legal advice. If you want legal advice, ask an attorney for assistance. For other information, you may want to: 1. Contact family court services. 2. Contact the family law facilitator or self-help center for information, local rules and court forms, and referrals to local legal services providers. 3. Find an attorney through your local bar association, the State Bar of California at http://calbar.ca.gov, or the Lawyer Referral Service at 1-866-442-2529. 4. Hire a private mediator for help with your parenting agreement. A mediator may be an attorney or counselor. Contact your local bar association, court ADR program, or family court services for a referral to local resources. 5. Find information on the Online Self-Help Center website at www.courts.ca.gov/selfhelp. 6. For free and low-cost legal help (if you qualify), go to www.law