Determining custody of children is frequently one of the trickiest—and most crucial—parts of a divorce for families. If there are kids involved, the judge or the spouses must resolve how to address matters, including how custody would be allocated, who would be allowed to make choices for the children, and how visits will operate. Contact a gig harbor custody attorney to find the best lawyer to advise you and represent you in a child custody case.
The different types of custody arrangements.
There is not one perfect-for-all custody arrangement; instead, the specifics of your ultimate parenting plan should be customized to suit your family’s circumstances.
Physical custody (which spouse the child resides within the house) and legal guardianship (which spouse has the authority and responsibility to make choices concerning the child’s growth and development) should be covered by the custody agreement’s final ruling.
Usually, custody agreements divide custody following one of the following:
- One parent gets the sole physical and legal custody.
- One parent gets the sole physical custody, and the other receives the joint legal custody.
- Both the parents get both physical and legal custody.
- One parent gets the sole legal custody, and the other receives the joint physical custody.
The court will often establish a visitation timetable if an order designates that one spouse has exclusive physical custody so that the kid can have the chance to develop a close bond with the parent without custody.
How is the custody arrangement decided?
When determining custody cases, courts in almost every jurisdiction place the kid’s stability as one of their top priority. It may be challenging for spouses to change present custody orders due to this high bias to keep things as they are, although it is not unattainable. Judges are aware that shifting family dynamics may necessitate altering the previously made orders.
Several states mandate the petitioning spouse to show that there has been a significant shift in events to adjust custody or contact. The parent must also demonstrate that the existing order does not function to the child’s interests.
The court will give any arrangements the parents make about custody of children a lot of weight, like the situation with most similar problems. The judge will most likely turn a fair and appropriate custody agreement into a court ruling if the parents can cooperate to reach one. Suppose you have considered communicating with your partner or taking part in counseling about custody of children. However, you still cannot agree on how to divide custodial rights and visits. In that case, the court will decide for you. Several states require judges to investigate and consider particular issues when determining custody. Even if either parent objects, the judge’s decision regarding the custody of children is final and legally binding for both spouses.
How to modify an arrangement?
When determining custody cases, courts in almost every jurisdiction place the kid’s stability as one of their top priority. It may be challenging for spouses to change present custody orders due to this high bias to keep things as they are, although it is not unattainable. Judges are aware that shifting family dynamics may necessitate altering the previously made orders.
Several states mandate the petitioning spouse to show that there has been a significant shift in events to adjust custody or contact. The parent must also demonstrate that the existing order does not function in the child’s interests.
