It is important to have an understanding of child custody arrangements when going through a divorce as a parent. Child custody arrangements determine each parent’s rights and responsibilities toward their child after a divorce.
There are two key terms to understand when learning about child custody: joint and sole custody. Joint and sole custody determine whether or not parents work together to raise their child. When learning about joint and sole custody, you should also learn about legal and physical custody. Here is what you should know:
Understanding joint legal and physical custody
Joint custody means parents share the responsibility of raising their child. Joint legal custody refers to each parent’s right to decide what is best for their child’s upbringing. Parents can agree on medical preferences, educational needs and other important matters for their child.
Joint physical custody means parents split how often their child lives with them. Parents can devise a child custody schedule that determines how often a child lives with each parent. A child custody schedule can rotate custody of a child every day, week or month, depending on the child’s needs and each parent’s daily routine.
Understanding sole legal and physical custody
A parent with sole legal custody can make decisions for their child without the other parent’s input. Sole physical custody means one parent has custody of their child at all times. However, the other parent may be given the right to visit their child on scheduled days.
Parents can have a mix of joint legal or physical and sole legal or physical custody depending on the needs and best interests of their child. Professional legal guidance can help parents understand their child custody rights.
