Are you going through the child custody process? If so, you probably have questions about the different types of child custody orders. Thankfully, Kendall Gkikas & Mitchell, LLP are here to help answer your questions.
What are the different types of child custody orders?
There are two different types of child custody orders. The first is legal custody. This means who can make important decisions for a child. Legal custody can be joint, where both parents share the responsibility to make important decisions regarding health care, education, and welfare. Sole legal custody means that only one parent has the right to make these important decisions. The second type of child custody order is physical custody. This refers to who a child lives with. Physical custody can also be joint or sole/primary. In the case of sole custody, it means that the child typically lives with one parent most of the time and then visits the other parent according to the visitation schedule.
What decisions can a parent with legal custody of a child make?
A parent with legal custody can make decisions regarding school, child care, religious activities, psychiatric and mental health counseling, therapy needs, doctors, dentists and other health professionals, travel, residence, sport, and summer camp, among other life decisions.
If parents share legal custody it means that they both have a right to make these decisions. However, that does not mean that the parents have to agree to every decision. A parent can make a decision alone, but to avoid issues that land them back in court there should be open communication and cooperation amongst parents who share legal custody.
What does the court take into consideration when deciding on child custody?
The court will always strive to grant custody in a manner that is in the “best interest of the child.” To determine what this is, the court will consider the age of the child, emotional ties between parents and child, the health of the child, the ability of each parent to care for the child, any history of family violence or substance abuse, and the child’s ties to the school, home, and their community.
For help dealing with your child custody case, contact Kendall Gkikas & Mitchell, LLP!
When going through the child custody process, it is important to have an experienced family law attorney by your side. At Kendall Gkikas & Mitchell, LLP, we can help you navigate the child custody process. With over 30 years of experience in the business, you can rest assured that we know the ins and outs of the child custody process. We fight tirelessly for our clients to receive a fair settlement when it comes to child custody. Give us a call today at 909-482-1422 to schedule your initial consultation.
To learn more about the reliable and quality family law services that we offer, visit us on the web at Kendall Gkikas & Mitchell, LLP.
