When getting a divorce with children involved, child custody can be the most stressful factor. When both parents want custody of the child, there’s only one way to resolve it, and that is with family law and compromise.
The following are the possible custody options for divorced parents:
- physical custody;
- legal custody;
- sole custody; and
- joint custody.
Physical Custody
Physical custody means the child lives with one parent, and the other parent receives visitation with the child. The amount of visitation is determined by the judge or between the parents.
Legal Custody
When a parent has legal custody, he or she has the right to decide what the child can and cannot do concerning:
- school;
- religion;
- medical care; and
- other life decisions.
Sole legal custody means only one parent can make decisions for the child, while joint legal custody means both parents have a right to decide, so compromising on many decisions that the parents do not agree on will need to happen.
Sole Custody
If the court awards sole custody to a parent, it’s likely the other parent is unfit to care for the child. Sole custody means the child lives with one parent, and that one parent has the right to make all of the decisions concerning the child. The other parent may or may not have visitation, and usually if the other parent has visitation it is supervised.
Joint Custody
Joint custody means both parents have a right to have the child live with them, and they both have a right to make decisions concerning the child’s welfare. This is usually awarded to parents who live close to each other, so that the child can live in each parent’s home for a determined amount of time.
Warren and Migliaccio: Divorce and Family Law Attorneys on Your Side
When it’s time to end your marriage, contact the divorce and family law attorneys at Warren and Migliaccio. Their experience in divorce court can help you seek the retribution you deserve from your marital dissolution. Contact them today at 888-584-9614.
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