What happens when both parents have custody of a child?

As we alluded to, the court is now trying to promote equal responsibility for both parents, as opposed to sole custody, as this is generally considered best for the child. That means both parents have custody and the child has two homes.

What should I do if I want custody of my child?

Consider Mediation or Arbitration. A father who wants custody of a child should consider mediation or arbitration, prior to undergoing an adversarial court hearing. In mediation or arbitration, cases are decided by a neutral third party.

Can a parent have sole physical custody of a child?

One parent can have either sole legal custody or sole physical custody of a child. Courts generally won’t hesitate to award sole physical custody to one parent if the other parent is deemed unfit — for example, because of alcohol or drug dependency or charges of child abuse or neglect.

Can a judge order a child custody evaluation?

A judge may believe a child custody investigation or private child custody evaluation is necessary. If so, he or she may appoint a private child custody evaluator or a child custody investigator. Such persons look into the abuse issues and report back to the court.

How does child custody work in a divorce?

Child custody can refer to where your children will live after divorce (physical custody), or who has the legal right to make decisions about their upbringing (legal custody). In each scenario, parents may jointly share the responsibility or the courts may award one parent solely. Below are some key terms to better understand child custody laws.

What should a court consider in a child custody case?

Best Interests of the Child: This is probably the most important factor that a court will consider. 1 A family court usually determines that it’s best for parents to share custody of a child. A parent looking to win full custody should be prepared to state clear reasons why joint custody would not serve the child’s best interests.

What should a father do if he wants joint custody of a child?

A father who wants either full or joint custody of a child should continue to make regular child support payments. If a father has an informal arrangement with the child’s mother, he should maintain records such as check receipts or a written letter from the child’s mother as to the child support arrangements and what’s been given thus far.

How can I get full custody of my child?

Getting Full Custody. In a full custody arrangement, one parent is the custodial parent, while the other parent is generally granted generous visitation rights as determined by the court. A court will generally agree to grant the non-custodial parent visitation rights unless visitation does not serve the best interests of the child.