Top child custody Lawyers in Santa Maria | 1 available

1 child custody lawyers are available in Santa Maria, california, including Michael Bryan Clayton. These lawyers are rated between 4.5/5 to 4.9/5 and 53% provide free consultation.

Michael Bryan

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Michael Bryan Clayton

400 East Orange Street , Santa Maria , California 93454

Practice Areas: Criminal Defense, Bankruptcy, Divorce, Personal Injury, Child Custody

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Recent Q&As in California (child custody)

How do pet/dog custody decisions work in California divorce proceedings? | Aug 19, 2026 | Sourced from Reddit
I'm looking to understand how pet custody decisions are made in divorce proceedings in California. I have read that under some newer laws in California, pets are not simply considered as property and decisions regarding their custody, shared or otherwise, are made with the animal's best interest in mind. Is there anyone with experience or insight into how that sort of decision is made in reality and how they actually land? To give background, I am currently going through a divorce and custody of our dog is the most contentious issue between my wife and I. We adopted her before we married, so in terms of the "property" law, I expect that the dog belongs to my wife as her name is on the pet license. However, I was responsible for things like health insurance and took her to more than half of her vet visits (not 100% sure, but I can dig up vet and payment records if necessary). As far as time to meet our dog's needs through walks, training, or other engagement, I've been the most available. For the roughly 5 years that we've had our dog, my job has allowed me to work remotely and I've only recently had to commute into my office two days a week for the last couple of months. My wife on the other hand, was pursuing a demanding master's degree program and then took a job that required her in-office 4 days a week. As a result, for nearly every…
Child custody | Aug 13, 2026 | Sourced from Reddit
Location: California Sorry if this is all over the place. I recently had a baby. I’m currently living with the father of my child but I’m trying to leave him and have questions regarding custody. Due to not getting paid during my maternity leave I had no other choice but to move with him onto his families property. At the time it felt like the smartest thing to do. The rent was half of what’s I was previously paying so my savings wouldn’t run out so quickly. We fought before I was pregnant but it never got physical. I love my child to death and I don’t regret having her but I was guilt tripped into keeping her by my religious mom and him. Weeks into moving in, he started abusing me. He knew I had no where to go. With no income and my mother living on section 8, I wasn’t able to go anywhere. Even now my financial issues have been what’s stopped me from being able to leave. Throughout my pregnancy there wasn’t a weekend where he wouldn’t physically abuse me and my dogs. There would be days where he would get so intoxicated (not just with alcohol with cocaine as well) he would throw all of my things out. I’ve never had the nerve to call the police on him. Living with his family I’m just scared they’d turn on me and cause me to lose my baby. I’m not saying I’m a saint because I…

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California Statutes — Child Custody

Custody of Children, part of the Family Code

Browse the full California Family Code →

Official government statute text, reproduced for reference — not legal advice. For your situation, consult a licensed attorney.

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