The Challenge
A client in an unsafe living situation reached out to work through their next steps, with one priority above all: protecting their young child. Both had experienced domestic violence — yet they relied on the opposing party for housing and financial stability.
How We Helped
Mitchell Polonsky identified the need for a Domestic Violence Protection Order from the very first consultation. Working with our paralegal team, he prepared the argument that the opposing party should be evaluated for substance abuse — then argued it effectively in court against opposing counsel.
The Outcome
The court approved a parenting plan limiting the opposing party’s access to the child unless they followed a substance abuse treatment plan — paired with spousal maintenance and child support so the client could provide a safe, comfortable home.
Related Services
More of Our Case Results
Child Custody · Plan Modification
Modifying a Parenting Plan to Secure Sole Custody
The Outcome
The court granted the client sole custody and full decision-making authority, limiting the opposing party to occasional monitored virtual contact — definitive protection, peace of mind, and a more stable future for the child.
Divorce · Property Division
A Clean Break That Protected What Mattered Most
The Outcome
The final division included a cash payment equalizing the community property the client retained — preserving the retirement accounts that secured their financial future and the pets that carried them through a difficult period.
Child Custody · Trial
Protecting an Out-of-State Parent’s Right to Visitation
The Outcome
The court declined to modify the parenting plan. The client kept their travel visitation and lost no time with their children, remaining a positive force in their lives during a critical period.