Parents going through a divorce often need to discuss child custody. Child custody allows parents to obtain the right to continue raising their children after a divorce. Parents often have two child custody options: sole and joint custody.
Sole custody means that a single parent is entirely responsible for their child’s well-being, attending to their daily needs and raising them to adulthood. However, many parents want to retain their child custody rights. As a result, parents may agree to joint custody. Joint custody allows parents to work together to continue raising their children – often in two separate homes.
There are several matters that may need to be addressed when agreeing to joint custody. Here is what you should know:
Who gets to decide how a child is raised?
Parents may not always agree with how their child is raised. This can become a matter of tension after a divorce. When parents agree to joint custody, they often split legal custody. Legal custody is a parent’s right to decide what is best for their child’s upbringing.
Parents who share legal custody must often discuss matters that are important to a child’s wellbeing. Some common topics include where a child goes to school, how often they see a doctor, dentist or therapist and whether their child has a religious upbringing.
How often does each parent care for the child?
Many parents live in two separate homes after a divorce. To help ensure parents can spend time with their children, parents are given physical custody. Physical custody allows parents to schedule when they are responsible for providing for their child’s daily routine and needs.
Establishing child custody after a divorce is not always easy. Many parents have different ideas about child custody. Legal guidance can help parents enforce their legal rights.
