As a Pasadena Family Law Attorney, I see the frustrations that many parents have when their day in court does not go as planned. Many people think you can simply come back into Court and argue the same issues. Unfortunately, for many who get unfavorable decisions, they usually must wait a full six months before they re-petition the Court, and only if there is a substantial change in circumstances to warrant a second look at the issues.
There is another alternative, but it can be difficult. A person can file a Motion for Reconsideration of the Issues if they do not agree. However, there are two major hurdles that must be overcome. 1) The Motion must be filed within 10 days of the prior Hearing that is not agreed upon. 2) The Reconsideration must be based on new facts, circumstances, or law that were not known at the time of the prior hearing.
Essentially, this translates to the reality that if a situation develops after the hearing that greatly changes the fairness of the situation for one parent, it is already too late. Also, if that parent could have or should have brought up a changed fact, law, or circumstance, then it is their fault and they typically will have no relief. This is often the source of much frustration for not only people who represent themselves, but attorneys as well.
The lesson learned is that plan carefully your arguments, as a second bite at the apple may be harder to come by than you think. Let an experienced Pasadena Family Law Attorney at Frazee/ Laron assist you in fighting for your rights without wasting your time.
