Child custody and support lawyers help a parent in gaining custody of a child or children after a divorce or in certain other circumstances. Lawyers dealing with child custody will also assist in visitation rights for the noncustodial parent. The court will make a decision based on the child or children’s best interest and it is up to a child custody lawyer to assist a parent in this regard.
There are several types of child custody:
Sole Legal Custody: This is when sole legal custody is awarded to a parent that makes every decision in regard to the education, health and welfare of a child or children with no input from the other parent.
Sole Physical Custody: The child or children remain with the one parent and the other has no physical custody of the child whatsoever. This is normally the ruling in cases where a child has been seriously neglected or maybe even abused.
Joint Custody: Joint custody is where decisions regarding the health, welfare and education of the child or children are agreed upon by both parents and joint physical custody typically includes some kind of parenting plan that stipulates which parent will be with the child or children and at what times.
Shared Custody: Normally happens only in cases where the divorced or separated parents have resolved their differences and can control them for the sake of bringing up the child or children in a nurturing, caring and peaceful environment.
People who are divorcing, divorced or facing separation are those that require the need for a child custody lawyer’s help and advice. Child custody law, visitation rights, support and maintenance obligations can all be advised and assisted with by these professional child custody lawyers.