Experienced California Child Custody Attorney

Visitation – Child Support and Enforcement – Paternity

Even more than divorce itself, child custody disputes evoke tension, hostility and raw emotion in parents with competing wishes.  The parties are hard-pressed to set aside personal differences to reach the goal of what is best for the children involved.  It quite often happens that the parties are distracted by the turmoil between them to make permanent, rational decisions for their children.

Nonetheless, they know a solution must be found.  Thousands of divorcing couples and unmarried parents have turned to the Law Offices of Wilkirson & Associates for guidance, advice, and strong legal advocacy.  We serve the Orange County and the Coachella Valley areas, with offices in Newport Beach and Palm Springs.  We maintain allegiance to our clients’ rights while resolving custody and child support conflicts in the best interests of the children.

Family Law Solutions Since 1974

David L. Wilkirson has practiced family law in California for more than 35 years.  His knowledge of the law and commitment to excellence has led to his regular service as a temporary judge in Orange County Superior Court.  He extends the same sound reasoning and problem-solving skills to his firm’s clientele that he uses when he is sitting as a judge.

Child Custody in California

Custody is the charge and control of a child, including the right to make all major decisions regarding education, religious upbringing, training, health and welfare.  Courts consider both physical custody (where the child lives the majority of the time) and legal custody (decision-making responsibility).

Many factors influence an award of custody, and the way a case is presented in court can have a large impact on the result for you and your children.  Mr. Wilkirson’s experience is invaluable in advocating your position.  If you are awarded primary custody, he will help you draft a custody agreement that clearly spells out the role of each parent and scheduling specifics to avoid future conflicts.  If you are the non-custodial parent, he ensures that you retain regular visitation and your rightful involvement in your child’s life.

Child Support Issues

The interest of the children is the court’s first priority.  Child support is ordered by the court to compensate for the expenses of raising the child.  Determination of child support is based on state guidelines regarding income and the amount of parenting time.  If one parent is awarded sole custody, the non-custodial parent is ordered to make regular payments for their fair share of expenses.  In joint custody, support obligations are shared; any child support is generally based on a ratio of the parents’ incomes and the amount of parenting time contributed by each parent.

California Child Support Guidelines are used to estimate the amount of child support that may be ordered in your case.  Our job is to ensure the court has solid information in awarding child support so that our client is not financially burdened.  Modifications can be requested if the need arises.  The Judge has the final authority to determine the amount of a child support order. We also represent both custodial and non-custodial parents in child support enforcement actions relating to past due child support.

Child support payments are usually made until children turn 18, or 19 if they are still in high school full time, living at home, and can't support themselves.

Paternity Support/Claims

Wilkirson & Associates defends both mothers’ rights and fathers’ rights.  We represent women seeking a court order to compel the father to pay child support or participate in child-rearing.  We also represent men in paternity actions to gain visitation rights or joint custody of their child.

Stepparents and Grandparents

• We handle stepparent adoption, including proceedings to terminate the rights proceedings of the absent parent(s).
• We represent grandparents in petitioning the court for their state-recognized visitation rights (such as after a divorce), as well as grandparents seeking to formally adopt a grandchild placed in their care.