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Report Child Abuse & Neglect

In order to help an abused or neglected child you must first recognize the signs of child abuse and neglect.

A single bruise is not always a sign that the child has been abused. Take a look at the following possible signs and see if you recognize any of them on a child you know:

  • Lacks adult supervision
  • Changes in behavior at home and school
  • Medical conditions go untreated
  • Hard time concentrating
  • Always looking around and over his or her shoulder
  • Gets to school early, stays late and does not want to go home

If you suspect your child or a child you know is being abused or neglected, report it to authorities immediately.

Any child who is being abused or neglected needs to be removed from home, and given the chance to live in a loving non abusive alternative. The parents of the child will lose their parental right, guardianship is then awarded to a family member, or the child is taken to CPS and placed with a foster family.

Having a Family Law attorney can help get everything organized, there can be one assigned to the child directly, at times this attorney s given guardianship of the child, serving two roles, ultimately the goal is to ensure the child has a safe home preferably with another family member, going to school, therapy is recommended also.

If any child is ever abused or neglected make sure that they are represented by a Family Law firm that understands the sensitivity, and traumatic this can be for any child. At Holstrom, Block & Parke, our attorneys have the experience, and the resources needed to ensure every child suffering abuse or neglect is safe again. Holstrom, Block & Parke Family Law Attorneys protect the rights of all children.

Contact Riverside’s top child attorneys, providing legal service for all children and providing loyal, confidential, and competent aggressive representation. Call us for a free no obligation consultation.

Child Custody

When Your Child Has An "Absent Father"

How do you handle the situation when your child asks where his or her daddy is? What do you say when your child’s father does not want to be part of the family? How can you answer your child’s questions?

Tell your child the truth but no more than they need to know at the time. You could say that he was so young and not ready to be a father. Maybe he lived too far to get involved. Or, he could have needed time to deal with issues on his own. These reasons do not justify his choices; they simply tell your child that his decision had nothing to do with the child.

Try to always remain positive. Sometimes, it’s hard, but a positive and upbeat attitude will get you through a lot. Tell your child over and over again that you love him or her and always will – no matter what they do or what life brings to them. Be patient.

Finally, it is important to share any good memories you have with your child about his or her father. Try not to bad-mouth him – don’t try to turn your child against his or her father. You never know – he could resolve his issues and show up down the road.

You cannot change the fact that your child’s father is not in the picture, but you can always assure your child of the love you have for him or her and that you are not going anywhere – you will always be there for your child.

There are resources, if you have questions about parental rights and custody matter when dealing with an absent father, or maybe you want to get child support, the law offices of Holstrom, Block & Parke Family Law & divorce attorneys can help answer all your questions. We understand the challenges that come with being a single parent, speak to one of our attorneys and get guidance you need, we will be there every step of the way.

Parental Rights

Does Your Divorce Attorney Have Family Law Experience?

Three Things To Keep In Mind:

Did you know that there are, on average, four divorces filed every minute in the U.S.? It’s no surprise that many people end up needing a divorce lawyer in these cases. Divorce can be adifficult emotional and financial period to begin with, and disagreements regarding money, property or children can only add to the legal confusion. If you are currently going through a divorce, there are three things you should keep in mind.

  • What do Family Lawyers Do?

When you’re getting a divorce, many people will probably recommend hiring a family lawyer. This is because family attorneys deal with many aspects of law that come up during divorce cases, including alimony, child custody, and child support. According to Rutgers University, 60% of divorces involve children. Hiring a family lawyer can be a good idea because their entire caseload will be situations like yours; they will be experts in the field. What you don’t want is a lawyer who has little experience handling the complexities of family law.

  • The Cost of a Divorce Lawyer

If you’re Madonna divorcing Guy Ritchie, your divorce will cost you $75 million. For the average person, though, the cost of a divorce will usually add up to several thousand dollars, which comes from attorney fees, mediation, and court costs, not to mention any divisions of assets or child support fees that might occur. Typical hourly rates for attorneys will run anywhere from $100 to $1,000, so it’s in your best interest to get things settled more quickly than not.

  • Questions to Ask a Divorce Lawyer

When you’re in the processing of choosing an attorney, it’s important to ask questions about how the divorce process will go. Talk to them about your expectations for the case- not only about what you’ll get out of it, but what you’ll probably have to give up, and how long you should expect it to last. Ask what percentage of their practice deals with family law- move on if their legal focus is largely elsewhere. Make sure you understand how they will bill for time- if you make a call or send an email, how does that work into your bill?

If you are ready to file for divorce, start your search for an attorneywith the law offices of Holstrom, Block & Parke experienced in family law and divorce law. We provide a personal service to all our clients, we know its a very emotional process and we have the tool necessary to ensure you get through the process with the best possible outcome protecting your rights and your life after divorce. Call us today at one of our many law offices in southern california or visit us online, you can fill out our contact form.

Divorce

Adoption vs. Guardianship

There are major differences in the rights and responsibilities between being a guardian and fully adopting a child.

While one gives an individual the responsibility to act as a temporary parent of a child, the otherpermanently relinquishes the rights and responsibilities of a child’s biological parents.

It is important to understand these differences if you are considering either one of these legal processes because the smallest mistake can completely change a child’s life.

In a Guardianship:

  • The biological parent is still afforded parental rights and are allowed contact with the child
  • If the parent becomes capable of caring for the child again, a guardianship can be terminated
  • The court can require supervision of guardians

A legal guardian assumes all responsibilities that a parent would have, including providing financial and emotional support for the child and consent to medical treatment if necessary – in addition to all the basic necessities required to survive on a day-to-day basis.

In an Adoption:

  • The biological parent’s rights permanently end
  • The relationship between the adoptive parent(s) and child is permanent
  • The law regards the adoptive child as it would a biological child of the family
  • The adoptive child is eligible to inherit from the adoptive parent(s)
  • There is no court supervision over adoptive families

With the adoption process, both legal custody and legal responsibilities are transferred from the biological parents to the adoptive parents. The biological parents of the child lose all of their rights and responsibilities.

The most important difference between guardianship and adoption is that guardianship can be temporary and is often reevaluated periodically to ensure the child’s best interests are being taken care of, while adoption is a permanent legal transference of custody.

If you have questions regarding either one of these processes, contact the family law offices ofHolstrom, Block & Parke. We are experienced and knowledgeable in child custody cases and can guide you through the adoption or guardianship process while ensuring that your legal rights are protected. We are committed to fighting for you.

Call us today at one of our offices located in San Bernardino, Riverside, or Orange County or, contact us online.

Child Custody / Child Support

Adopting A Baby

What You Should Know About Adopting A Baby:

Adopting a child is a wonderful, life-changing experience.

Some couples want to help a homeless child find a nurturing home while others have the need to raise a child.

Did you know that there are approximately 650,000 children in out-of-home placement in the United States? About 20 percent are available for adoption – some with special needs. Unfortunately, many adopting parents are unaware of the existing or potential problems an adopted child brings with him or her to their new home.

Being unprepared to raise a special needs or high-risk child unnecessarily drains resources and adds a lot of stress on the family. While most adoptions go well, some do not.

Many children up for adoption have been traumatized by their birth families or foster care families. Too often adoptive parents are told, “All this child needs is love and everything will be fine.” This is not always true.

Every parent, biological or adopted, should know as much as possible about the attachment process – the life-long impact it has on children. It is one of the fundamental processes necessary for survival and care-giving. It’s a process that enhances the safety and security of an infant in getting his or her needs met.

To improve your chances for a successful adoption, you need to be as fully informed and prepared as possible. Read all you can on the subject and ask every question you have. This is a major decision not only for you but also the child you bring home.

Being a parent is one of the most enriching experiences in life. And, though the job is often all-consuming and demanding, it certainly can expand your capacity for love and fun in ways you never imaged.

If adoption is something you are thinking about, contact the family law offices of Holstrom, Block & Parke. While many other areas of family law see the attorney helping in the breakup of a family, adoption allows an attorney to create or expand families.

Our attorneys understand that children and family are what matters most in people’s lives. Contact us today – let us help you expand your family.

Adoption / Parental Rights

I Miss Seeing My Children

You’re going through a divorce and your life is a total mess now – filled with a lot of stress and emotions. However, the one great thing that came out of your marriage is your children – now, for all practical reasons, they too are gone.

When you go through a divorce, you not only have to deal with the emotional trauma of splitting with your spouse, but you have to cope with losing the day-to-day relationship you have with your children.

Sometimes couples stay together because the dad can’t stand the idea of becoming separated from his children. Do I have to tell you how unhealthy it is to stay in a relationship where you and your spouse are destroying one another?

When you’re a parent going through a divorce, your number one priority often lies with how your children’s lives will be changed.

After a divorce, children are typically sent back and forth between their mother’s and father’s homes. The actual time varies, depending on the type of custody that was awarded in a court order.

In case you aren’t aware, you have a legal right to have a meaningful relationship with your children – even if you are no longer with their mother.

Are you a dad who is having trouble seeing your children since your divorce? Is your ex-spouse using your children as a means to punish you for leaving? Has your ex become so hostile that she’s only allowing you to see your children every other weekend – sometimes less?

Your ex might think she is justified to do this because you left, but she isn’t. You’re still paying child support – never stopped paying child support – but you want to see your children as often as possible.

What about if your ex decides to move away? About 20 percent of custodial mothers find an excuse to do just that – leaving the father to see his children only a few times a year. You end up being the father who had daily close contact with your children to a father who is out of the loop with your children.

It’s in the children’s best interests to have both parents present during their lives, but sometimes personal disagreements can get in the way of this. We have seen many parents use their children as pawns simply to get back at the other parent. This is unfortunate because not having a relationship with a parent can affect the child’s life.

Do you find yourself in this situation? If so, contact the Family Law offices of Holstrom, Block & Parke.Our firm can help preserve your rights and make sure your children do not miss out on having a relationship with their father.

We are conveniently located in Orange, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties. Call our offices for a free consultation to discuss your case with us.

Child Custody / Divorce

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The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.