$950,000 Child Custody Settlement

The Case

Our client, a devoted father of three children ages 5, 8, and 11, was facing a nightmare custody battle in Superior Court. His ex-spouse had relocated the children without court permission, enrolled them in new schools, and was actively attempting to alienate the children from their father — a tactic the court takes very seriously under California law.

The father had been the primary caretaker during the marriage, coaching their sports teams, attending every parent-teacher conference, and managing their healthcare. Despite this, his ex-spouse's attorney argued that the children were better off staying in their new location. The case also involved significant marital assets including multiple properties and a family business worth over $2 million.

Our Strategy

Attorney James Mitchell personally handled this case, recognizing the urgency of the parental alienation situation. We immediately filed an emergency motion to prevent further relocation and requested a child custody evaluation. Our team worked with a forensic psychologist who documented the alienation behavior and its harmful effects on the children.

We gathered school records, medical records, coaching schedules, and testimony from teachers, coaches, and pediatricians — all confirming our client as the more involved and stable parent. For the financial component, we retained a forensic accountant to accurately value the family business and trace hidden assets the opposing party had attempted to conceal.

The Outcome

The court awarded our client primary physical custody of all three children, with a structured visitation schedule for the mother that included mandatory family therapy. The financial settlement totaled $950,000, including equitable division of the family business, both properties, retirement accounts, and retroactive child support. The judge specifically cited the alienation behavior as a factor in the custody determination.

Today, the children are thriving in their father's care, performing well in school, and maintaining a healthier relationship with both parents through court-ordered counseling.