San Bernardino & Riverside Minor's Counsel Attorney

The Family Law Office of Michael R. Young, APC, serves clients throughout Southern California, including San Bernardino and Riverside.  Whether you are struggling with a messy divorce, legal separation, annulment, property distribution issue, child custody and visitation, child support, spousal support, or a domestic violence issue, Mr. Young can help.  As a prominent family law attorney, Mr. Young stays current on California family law with ongoing education and by maintaining memberships in a number of professional and legal organizations. 

First and foremost, we believe that helping our clients understand the laws that affect them and their situations will help them to make more informed and rational decisions.  Thus, we walk each of our clients step-by-step through the legalities involved in their individual cases.  With compassionate, yet aggressive legal representation, Mr. Young helps his clients achieve their goals.  For more information on how the San Bernardino/Riverside Family Law Office of Michael R. Young, APC can help you, contact us today.

What is a Minor’s Counsel?
All too often, children are the biggest victims of divorce.  Their wants and desires are not always addressed and, sadly, they often fall to the wayside during the divorce, custody, and visitation processes.  In California, however, courts are now appointing “Minor’s Counsels” to represent the child’s best interest and provide the courts with an outline of their desires. 

A minor’s counsel is a specially-trained individual whose primary responsibility is to “investigate the interests of the child and his/her preferences.”  The child’s age and maturity level generally dictate how much weight such preferences will be given.  For instance, if a child is 14 years of age or older and assessed to be competent, his or her desires will be given more weight.  If a child is younger than 14 years of age, but is quite mature and competent to form and express a meaningful preference, then weight will also be given to that child’s wishes.  Children who are too young or who have emotional problems or a mental defect may be interviewed by the minor’s counsel to find out their preferences, but most often, the minor’s counsel will make the final determination  as to what should be recommended to the courts with regard to what would be in their best interests.  The minor’s counsel typically will make recommendations to the court regarding such issues as custody and visitation, health matters, and education as they relate to the child’s best interests.  

Should you have any questions or need further information about a “Minor’s Counsel” or any other family law matter, contact the San Bernardino/Riverside Family Law Office of Michael R. Young, APC today.