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PLEASE NOTE
Family Court Services provides mediation and investigation services to families in Orange
County. Specially trained Court Mediators are available to work with families in an effort to
resolve issues related to the custody of their children. Family Court Services also
oversees the Keeping Kids Safe Program that, through community partners, provides
supervised visitation services for children and their parents.
Welcome to the Superior Court of California, County of Orange, Family Court Services. In this page you will find
links for information about our services. Click on the links below for information about our Location and Office
Hours, and for questions and answers about services.
See OC Superior Court Location Page for more specific information on location and map.
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Legal Custody: The rights and responsibilities of parents to make decisions relating to the health,
education and welfare of their children.
Joint Legal Custody: Both parents share in the right and responsibility to make decisions relating to
the health, education and welfare of a child.
Sole Legal Custody: One parent has the right and responsibility to make decisions relating to the
health, education and welfare of a child.
Physical Custody:How much time the children spend with each parent; where the children live; how
day-to-day responsibilities are fulfilled.
Joint Physical Custody: Children spend a significant amount of time with each parent.
Sole Physical Custody: Children reside primarily with one parent and have visitation with the other
parent.
Joint Custody: This term means both joint legal and joint physical custody. Parents agree to share it
all.
Visitation: Times when one parent has the children and is fully responsible for them.
Supervised Visitation: Visitation is limited to special situations in which a third party, specified by the
Court, is present. Supervised, monitored visitation may occur when there is a need to protect children
because of drug or alcohol abuse, child abuse or neglect, family violence, or other serious problems,
or when children are getting to know an absent parent.
Examples:
Primary custody arrangements often include alternate weekends, a mid-week visit, and alternating
holidays, special days and summer vacations with the other parent.
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Joint custody arrangements allow for the children to spend a significant amount of time in each
parent's home.
Minimizing the need for child care by arranging time so that each parent has the child during their days
or hours off from work, when they can spend time with and care for the child, thus maximizing the
children's time with both parents.
Guidelines for various Parenting Plans may be obtained by calling Family Court Services (714) 935-
6550.
Question: How does the DVPSP investigation help the Court and who does it?
Answer: The investigation provides valuable information to the Court in the form of police reports, child abuse
reports, criminal and DVPSP histories and witness statements. The information helps the Court determine who
is the 'primary aggressor' and provides recommendations for a safe parenting plan. All investigations are
performed by trained, experienced court staff assigned to Family Court Services. All Court Investigators are
skilled professionals who have at least a Master's Degree and extensive clinical experience in the fields of
psychology, marriage, family and child counseling, or social work. They are trained in investigations, domestic
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psychology, marriage, family and child counseling, or social work. They are trained in investigations, domestic
violence assessment and conflict resolution.
COMMUNITY RESOURCES:
A variety of non-profit social services agencies provide counseling services to divorcing families in the areas of
domestic violence, marriage, family and children, and drug and alcohol abuse. Legal assistance is also
available. For a list of these community resources, please contact Family Court Services, (714) 935-6550.
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