Answering Questions About Child Custody Cases
Posted on Jan 15, 2016 7:35am PST
As
child custody lawyers near Severn and their clients know, divorce involves major changes for
former spouses and their children. If you and your spouse have made the
difficult decision to separate, it is essential to find an experienced
family law attorney who can explain your legal rights and fight for the
best interests of your children. There are many different kinds of child
custody arrangements. Continue reading to find out answers to common child
custody questions.
What Factors Does the Court Use to Determine Custody?
Custody of children is determined according to the “child’s
best interest” standard. That means the court will consider a variety
of factors when determining child custody. For example, a judge will analyze
a child’s level of mental, emotional, and social development. The
judge will also consider how involved each parent has been in the child’s
upbringing, any history of domestic or child abuse, and each parent’s
geographic location. The court will also weigh the child’s preference
for living arrangements.
What Is Shared Custody?
In family law, shared custody refers to any arrangement where both parents
have some responsibility for raising the child. Shared custody can be
divided as joint custody, which means both parents share legal and physical
child custody. Both parents will make decisions for the children and spend
equal time with them. Shared custody may also entail split custody. With
split custody, each parent assumes responsibility for some of the children.
What Is Sole Custody?
In sole custody, one parent assumes all or almost all of a child’s
care after a divorce. A parent who is granted sole custody generally makes
all decisions relating to the child, and the child lives with that parent.
However, a non-custodial parent may still be responsible for paying child
support. Any child support enforcement issues will be handled by the court
and usually with the assistance of family court lawyers.