Child Custody

Child custody law is one part of family law, and is involved in the divorce process or when a marriage is otherwise dissolved. Child custody law is a legal process that involves ex-spouses vying for different child custody rights. There are different child custody rights options, including partial or joint custody or full custody. Child custody laws are in place to make sure that the children in a family are protected even when the marriage is no longer working out. Here you will find an explanation of the options that are available to you pertaining to child custody and the family laws surrounding it.

All Child Custody Articles

Child Custody
Child custody is a term that refers to rights and responsibilities for each parent and child. Custody is not a term used to indicate ownership, but rather a determination of the time a child is going to be with each parent and each parent’s responsibility to make decisions on behalf of the child. Custody can be modified to accommodate significant changes in the lives of the children or the parents involved. The judge attempts to structure custody to promote a strong relationship between children and their parents.
Child Custody Rights
Child custody rights, which are also referred to as custody of a child, are awarded to anyone that can have a positive influence on a child following the divorce of a couple or the death of a parent or legal guardian. Not many people realize this but child custody rights don’t just come after a divorce. They also come following the death of single parent. Even though the two circumstances are completely different, they are both incredibly traumatizing.
Child Custody for Fathers
Child custody can be one of the most heated arguments to take place in divorce proceedings between a couple that no longer wants to be married to one another. Because of this, the children can be hurt emotionally. Courts want to make sure before child custody is awarded to either party that the children will be taken care of financially, physically, and emotionally. If not, then custody will be awarded to the other party involved in the divorce case. Child custody, prior to the twentieth century, was awarded to the father of the child as defined by common law.
Child Visitation Schedules
Child visitation schedules are court ordered documents that detail how physical custody of children will be shared
Factors in Child Custody
A large number of factors may influence the outcome of any given child custody dispute. For child custody arrangements that cannot be worked out satisfactorily outside of family courts, the judge or jury will be left to decide the custody arrangements for a child or children. In these family court hearings, both parties can produce virtually any piece of information, both positive and negative, that may sway the judge or jury in issuing a favorable outcome. Each child custody case presents differing and inherently unique circumstances surrounding it, and with this being so, the
Grandparents and Visitation Rights
Child custody is a term used to describe the legal relationship between a child and his or her parents or legal guardians. Anyone that has custody of a child has all the rights and responsibilities of raising that child; including making decisions and caring for the child. Anyone can have custody of a child if granted by a court. A legal guardian of a child can be that child’s biological parents, adoptive parents, grandparents, cousins, siblings of legal age, aunts, uncles and friends.

Introduction to Child Custody
Following the separation of biological parents, the future of the offspring produced by the relationship is in question. Typically, contrary to popular tabloid fodder, these cases are easily settled out of court through competent legal professionals, but there are instances where vindictive or divisive ex-partners refuse to reach an amiable agreement on affable terms. Contentions between two parties in these forms of child custody battles generally do end up in family court with a judge presiding over their child custody dispute.
Joint Child Custody
Joint legal custody is the term used to describe how both parents share the responsibility of caring for their children after a divorce as well as both parents making the important legal decisions regarding their child’s life.
Out of Court Custody Agreements
In many instances of child custody disputes following the dissolution of a marriage or relationship between two parents, the parties will seek to solidify their arrangements for the care and upbringing of their child or children in a legal manner. As is the case with most child custody arrangements, the process of establishing the custody and living arrangements of a child will not entail a long, dragged out process of involving proceedings in a family court before a family court judge. Rather, through alternative dispute resolution, both parents can come to an applicable and mutu
Visitation Rights
When a married couple who has children get a divorce, they will need to determine who will take care of the children for the majority of the time. If they are unable to decide amongst themselves, a judge will typically decide for them. If one parent is given full custody – meaning the child or children reside with them most of the time – the other parent is usually given some visitation rights. This is an overview of child custody visitation rights.

Child Custody Lawyers FAQ

How is child custody typically determined?

Child custody is usually determined by the judge based on what is best for the children involved. The judge will determine who has been the sole care giver for the child up to the present time and then will consider...

Should an attorney be hired for a child custody case?

Yes. An attorney should be hired if possible, because he or she will know the ins and outs of child custody. In a situation where something so valuable as custody of your children is at stake...

Will the judge take the wishes of the children into account to determine custody?

If the child is above a certain age, usually the judge will hear the child out. He or she will listen closely to the child’s wishes and the reasoning behind those wishes. However, the best interest of the child usually takes precedence...

Attorney Search

Enter your zipcode or search for a lawyer by city & state

Zip Code

-- OR --

Enter Your Location

Child Custody

Recommended Articles

Find a Child Custody Lawyer

All Child Custody Articles

Child Custody Lawyers FAQ

Attorney Search

Family Topics

Sponsored Resources