It is important to understand the basics of child custody if you are a parent going through a divorce. Child custody rights refer to a parent’s legal right to care for their child and make decisions on their behalf.
There are a few basic terms to know about when learning about child custody. Here is what you should know:
1. Sole legal custody
Legal custody refers to a parent’s right to decide what is in their child’s best interests, including education, diet, religious upbringing and medical care. Sole legal custody means that one parent is responsible for deciding what is best for their child.
2. Joint legal custody
Joint legal custody means that both parents decide what is best for their child’s upbringing. This often means that parents have to maintain constant communication about their child’s life.
3. Sole physical custody
Physical custody refers to where a child lives and a parent’s responsibility to care for their child’s daily needs. Sole physical custody means that a child lives with only one of their parents. This parent is entirely responsible for providing food, clothing and shelter for their child.
4. Joint physical custody
Joint physical custody means that a child lives with both parents. Parents can create a child custody schedule to determine when each of them is responsible for caring for their child. Many co-parents rotate physical custody every day, week or month to help ensure equal custody time.
You may need to reach out for legal guidance if you are seeking child custody. Legal guidance can help you learn more about the different forms of child custody and what type of documents you need to file.