Legal disputes over child custody are seldom simple. When the parents reside in distant states, they might be very challenging. The objective is to reach a custody agreement that enables the child to keep a close bond with both parents, notwithstanding their geographic separation. Read on to learn how to go about this.
Definition of Child Custody Agreements
When parents opt for a divorce or different living arrangements, they must decide how they will raise their children moving forward. The custody and relationship that exists between both parents and their kids are referred to legally as the “child custody” arrangement. Depending on the family’s circumstances, there are various kinds of custody agreements.
What happens if both parents have no way to agree upon something together? The judge will determine the optimal custody arrangement for the child.
Exclusive Legal Custody
Important choices about the child’s care must be made by the parent who has been granted sole legal custody.
This contains selections like:
- Medical
- education
- activities outside of school
Share of Legal Custody
When both parents have joint or shared custody, the child has joint legal custody. In accordance with this parenting agreement, the child’s significant life decisions are equally influenced by both parents. Determinations that will significantly influence the kid must be discussed and approved by the parents.
Married parents frequently collaborate to make crucial decisions for their kids. If both couples are capable parents, the judge will frequently choose to maintain this arrangement after they divorce or split.
Exclusive Physical Custody
A child’s primary residence is determined by who has physical possession of them. Physical custody is typically divided between the parents, with one having primary and secondary custody.
The state’s court will take into account a number of variables when deciding who the child resides with more frequently. Most courts will give the person who served as the child’s primary carer up until that point a lot of weight.
Joint Physical Custody
The child has shared physical custody if they live mostly with both parents.
If the following information is accurate, a joint custody arrangement would be feasible:
- Both parents concur that it is in the child’s best interests.
- There is no record of child or domestic abuse.
- Both parents live sufficiently close to one another for joint custody to be logistically feasible, they get along well with one another, and they generally agree on important child-rearing issues.