Glendale Family Law Attorneys 

Family changes often bring legal questions that aren't easy to answer on your own. You may be trying to understand your rights as a parent, work out financial arrangements after a separation, change an existing court order, or decide whether you need to take legal action.

Even when the people involved want to reach an agreement, it can be difficult to know where to begin or what California law requires.

At Law Offices of Makupson & Howard, represents individuals and families in Glendale, California, and surrounding communities. Our boutique family law firm handles divorce, child custody, support, property matters, mediation, and other family-related legal issues. Bringing over 55 years of collective family law experience to our work. 

If you're unsure with what your situation requires, speaking with a family law attorney can help you understand your options. Call us today at (888) 328-2734 and schedule a consultation.

What Does Family Law Cover?

Family law addresses legal issues involving marriage, children, financial responsibilities, and family relationships. Some matters begin when a couple separates. Others arise when parents disagree about their children, a family needs to change an existing court order, or someone wants to establish legal parentage.

Our family law practice includes matters involving:

• Divorce and legal separation
• Child custody, visitation, and parenting plans
• Child support and spousal support
• Property and debt division
• Mediation and collaborative divorce
• Custody and support modifications
• Parental relocation and parental rights
• Domestic violence and restraining orders
• Paternity and grandparents' rights
• Annulment
• Premarital and postmarital agreements
• Same-sex divorce and other family-related matters

These issues can overlap. For example, a separation may involve questions about where children will live, how expenses will be handled, and what happens to shared property. A custody disagreement may also involve a parent's planned move or a request to change an existing order.

Understanding how one decision may affect another is an important part of addressing a family law matter.

Questions People Ask Before Hiring a Family Law Attorney

Do I need a family law attorney?

You aren't required to hire an attorney for every family law matter. Some people are able to resolve straightforward issues through an agreement or by handling the required court paperwork themselves.

However, legal guidance may be helpful when there are disagreements about children, significant assets or debts, business interests, financial support, or an existing court order. An attorney can explain the applicable legal requirements, identify issues you may need to address, and help you understand the possible next steps.

You also don't need to wait until a dispute becomes serious before seeking advice. Understanding your options early may help you make more informed decisions.

Do all family law matters have to go to court?

No. Some family law matters can be resolved through direct negotiations, mediation, or collaborative processes.

In mediation, a neutral person helps the parties discuss disputed issues and work toward an agreement. The mediator does not make decisions for either side or act as either party's attorney.

Collaborative divorce is another option in which each spouse has their own attorney, and the parties work through a structured process intended to reach an agreement outside court.

However, an agreement may still need to be submitted to the court for approval or incorporated into a court order. If the parties cannot resolve important disagreements, a judge may need to make decisions.

What if the other parent and I disagree about custody?

Parents may disagree about where their child should live, how parenting time should be divided, or who should make important decisions about education and healthcare.

California recognizes two main aspects of custody:

• Legal custody. The authority to make important decisions about a child's health, education, and welfare.
• Physical custody. Where the child lives and how parenting time is arranged.

California courts make custody decisions based on the child's best interests. Relevant considerations may include the child's health, relationships with each parent, connections to home and school, and any history of family violence.

A parenting arrangement also needs to account for everyday responsibilities, including school schedules, transportation, activities, and each parent's availability.

Does California automatically give parents equal custody?

No. California does not automatically award 50/50 parenting time in every case.

Parents may agree to share parenting time equally, but the appropriate arrangement depends on the child's best interests and the family's circumstances. A different schedule may be more suitable depending on the child's needs, the parents' ability to communicate, and practical considerations such as school and work schedules.

Can an existing custody or support order be changed?

Possibly. Family circumstances can change after a court order is entered. A parent may move, a child's needs may develop, or one party's income may change.

The legal requirements depend on the type of order. Modifying a final custody order generally requires showing a significant change in circumstances. Child support may be modified when there has been a qualifying change in circumstances, such as a substantial difference in income or parenting time.

An informal agreement between parents does not automatically replace an existing court order. If you want a change to be legally recognized, you may need to obtain a new court order.

What happens if one parent wants to move?

A parent's move can affect an existing parenting arrangement, especially when the distance makes the current schedule difficult to follow.

Not every move requires court permission. Whether a parent can move with a child may depend on the existing custody order and the effect of the move on the current parenting arrangement. If a proposed relocation would interfere with that arrangement, a new court order may be necessary.

The court's analysis can depend on whether there is a final custody order, the existing physical custody arrangement, the distance of the move, and how the relocation may affect the child's relationship with each parent.

What if I'm experiencing domestic violence?

California provides legal options for people experiencing domestic violence. Depending on the circumstances, a person may request a restraining order that can require the other party to stay away, stop contacting them, or leave a shared residence. Orders may also address temporary child custody and visitation.

Domestic violence can also affect custody decisions. Under California Family Code § 3044, a court finding that a parent seeking custody committed domestic violence within the previous 5 years against the other parent, the child, the child's siblings, or certain other specified persons triggers a rebuttable presumption that awarding that parent sole or joint legal or physical custody would be detrimental to the child's best interests.

The presumption may be rebutted only by meeting specific statutory requirements. An allegation alone does not trigger it.

If safety is an immediate concern, contact emergency services. Legal advice can help you understand the available protective measures and how they may relate to an existing family court matter.

What's the difference between divorce and legal separation?

Both divorce and legal separation allow spouses to address issues such as property, debts, financial support, and child custody.

The main difference is marital status. A divorce legally ends the marriage, while a legal separation does not. A legal separation may be an option for people who want court orders addressing their family and financial arrangements but do not want to end their marriage.

California also has different timing requirements for these proceedings. Divorce has a mandatory six-month waiting period before it can become final, while legal separation does not have that same waiting period.

Can grandparents request visitation in California?

In certain circumstances, California law allows grandparents to petition for visitation with a grandchild. However, grandparents do not automatically have the same legal rights as parents.

Courts generally consider the existing relationship between the grandparent and child, whether visitation would serve the child's interests, and the parents' rights to make decisions about their child. Whether a grandparent can file also depends on the parents' marital status and other circumstances specified by California law.

Other Family Law Matters

Some family law concerns fall outside the more common questions involving divorce, custody, and support. 

We also assist clients with matters such as:

• Paternity. Establishing legal parentage and addressing related custody, visitation, and support questions.
• Annulment. Seeking a court determination that a marriage was legally invalid from the beginning based on specific grounds under California law.
• Premarital and postmarital agreements. Preparing or reviewing agreements addressing property, debts, and certain financial rights.
• Grandparent visitation. Advising grandparents about whether they may petition for visitation under California law.
• Same-sex family law matters. Handling divorce, property, custody, and support issues involving same-sex couples.

The legal requirements can differ depending on the issue and the family's circumstances. We can discuss which rules may apply and what steps may be available.

A Multigenerational Family Law Firm Serving Glendale

Law Offices of Makupson & Howard is a Pasadena-based boutique family law firm serving individuals and families throughout the surrounding communities, including Glendale.

Founded by Carolyn A. Makupson, our firm has grown into a multigenerational family law practice. Carolyn served as a Judge Pro Tem in Los Angeles County from 1996 through 2025 and was appointed as minors' counsel in contested custody matters. She also developed a mediation practice alongside her litigation work.

Managing Partner Kristen Howard has practiced family law since 2002. She handles divorce, custody, and other family-related disputes and is a Certified Divorce and Family Law Mediator with a background in collaborative divorce.

Associate Attorney Lesly J. Silva brings additional courtroom and family law experience, including work with the LevittQuinn Family Law Center and the Pasadena Courthouse. She is also fluent in Spanish.

Talk With a Glendale Family Law Attorney

You don't have to know exactly what kind of legal help you need before reaching out. Whether you're dealing with a parenting disagreement, considering a change to an existing court order, addressing financial questions, or trying to understand your options, a conversation with an attorney can help clarify what comes next.

We take time to understand your circumstances, explain the legal issues involved, and discuss the options that may be available.

Call (888) 328-2734 to schedule a consultation with Law Offices of Makupson & Howard about your family law matter in Glendale, California.