Attorney Leah Choi provides California child custody and family law services in Korean and English for parents in Los Angeles County and Orange County. Custody matters may involve legal custody, physical custody, parenting time, exchanges, communication rules, existing orders, modification requests, emergency RFO issues, move-away questions, and safety concerns.
Custody strategy depends on whether there is already a court order, whether a new request must be filed, whether mediation or a hearing is scheduled, and whether urgent child-safety or travel issues exist.
The practical issues can include parental decision-making, school and medical matters, transportation, communication, travel, exchanges, holidays, safety restrictions, and whether an existing order should be changed.
Legal custody concerns major decisions for the child, including education, health care, and other important matters. We review whether joint or sole legal custody is requested and how decision-making language should work in practice.
Physical custody addresses where the child lives and how parenting time is divided. A schedule may need to account for school, work, transportation, distance between homes, and the child’s routine.
Parenting plans may address weekdays, weekends, holidays, vacations, exchanges, transportation, communication methods, and other recurring logistics.
If an order already exists, the first question is what the current order says and what change is being requested. Modification strategy depends on the facts, timing, existing orders, and relief requested.
Some disputes involve urgent court requests or an upcoming Request for Order hearing. We first review the court date, filing status, service, declarations, evidence, and the current order.
Relocation, international travel, supervised visitation, restraining-order issues, and other safety concerns can affect custody analysis and may require careful review of existing orders and requested relief.
Some parents prefer to explain sensitive family facts in Korean. Others are Korean-American or second-generation and prefer legal terminology in English while still wanting an attorney who understands Korean family and cultural context.
A matter may also involve Korean-speaking relatives, Korean-language messages or records, travel to Korea, or parents living in different states or countries. Those facts should be identified early because jurisdiction, travel, service, and enforcement questions can affect strategy.
Useful materials may include the current custody order, mediation or hearing notices, prior declarations, school or medical records, parenting calendars, relevant messages, travel information, and records showing how the current schedule is actually working.
Stand-alone court appearance requests are generally not accepted. Hearing preparation and appearance support may be reviewed for existing clients whose custody matter is handled by the office or for whom the office has prepared major court documents.
We review the most recent signed order, parenting plan, judgment, or temporary order before discussing changes.
Los Angeles and Orange County cases may have upcoming mediation, recommending counseling, RFO, or hearing dates that affect the timeline.
Legal custody, physical custody, parenting time, exchange terms, travel, relocation, supervision, or another child-related order should be identified clearly.
The relevant evidence depends on the issue, existing order, requested relief, and what has happened since the last order.
A brief preliminary inquiry can identify the date and urgency, but detailed legal analysis, document review, and strategy generally require a paid consultation or formal representation.
A written fee agreement controls the actual scope of representation and billing terms.
In-person consultations are available by appointment at Fullerton and LA Koreatown. The Fullerton office is the firm’s main office and official mailing address.
1440 N Harbor Blvd, Suite 900
Fullerton, CA 92835
Monday–Sunday 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM · By appointment
3435 Wilshire Blvd, 14th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Monday–Friday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Appointment only
Closed Saturday and Sunday
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Yes. Attorney Leah Choi provides California child custody and family law consultations in Korean and English for parents in Los Angeles County and Orange County.
Legal custody concerns major decision-making for the child, while physical custody concerns where the child lives and the parenting schedule. The exact language and practical effect depend on the court order and facts of the case.
Depending on the case, the office may review an existing custody order, the change being requested, the procedural posture, and supporting facts to determine what filing or response may be appropriate.
Yes. Contact the office as early as possible so the current order, filed papers, service status, mediation date, hearing date, deadlines, and available preparation time can be reviewed.
Move-away, relocation, international travel, passport, and long-distance parenting issues may be reviewed depending on the case. These matters can involve existing orders, notice, jurisdiction, or enforcement concerns.
Domestic violence restraining orders, supervised visitation, exchange restrictions, and other safety-related orders can overlap with custody issues. Current orders, requested relief, and upcoming court dates should be reviewed together.
The initial retainer is generally $5,000, and attorney time is billed at $300 per hour against the retainer. The retainer is an advance deposit, not a flat fee for the entire case, and replenishment may be required.
Yes. Parents may discuss their California child custody matter in Korean, English, or a combination of both.
