A Guide To The Different Types Of Child Custody

When going through a divorce, you may expect different outcomes, depending on the ins and outs of your case. A child custody agreement is a critical part of the outcome because it dictates how much of a role you'll play in your children's lives after a divorce.

Divorce proceedings can get messy, but your children don't have to miss out on one parent because of it. However, the different types of custody can oftentimes be unclear about what conditions they represent. Learn more about various types of custody granted after a divorce settlement ruling.

Sole Custody

Also known as full custody, sole custody grants one parent all the legal and physical responsibilities over the child. The parent with full custody has complete authority over the child's life. They have the final say on where the child goes to school, their religious affiliations, health care, and any extra activities.

The other parent, however, may only be allowed limited visitation rights as per the court order. They may have little to no influence on their child's life and upbringing. In most cases, a judge grants full custody to one parent if the other parent is deemed to be an unfit guardian. The parent could either be abusive (both mentally and physically) or totally absent from their child's life.

If you want full custody of your child, you'll need supportive evidence of your estranged partner's complacency. Also, you may need to convince a judge that you can give the child the life they need going forward.

Joint Custody

Joint custody is where parents split up responsibilities for their child's upbringing. Unlike full custody, both parents can take an active role in their child's life. You can either have joint legal custody, joint physical custody, or both.

The parents draft an agreement through their lawyers while keeping in mind things such as housing arrangements and work schedules. However, not all parents can agree on a workable schedule. They may have to follow a courtappointed schedule in line with the child's interests.

For joint physical custody, the parents need a schedule that allows the child to spend equal time with each parent. This arrangement prioritizes the child's needs so that they can have both parents' presence in their life.

For joint legal custody, both parents have a legal right over the major life decisions for their child. You and your co-parent may need to be on the same page on such decisions for the arrangement to work.

Bird's Nest Custody

For bird's nest custody, the children live in a central location (usually the initial family home). Parents take turns staying with the kids. For instance, one parent could be with the kids from Sunday morning to Wednesday afternoon. The other parent then takes over from Wednesday evening to Sunday morning.

Such an approach may limit disruption in the child's daily life since they don't have to move out of their old home. Also, both parents can get quality time with their children whenever it's their turn to stay with the kids. This type of custody arrangement is usually picked by the parents, not the court.

However, a bird's nest custody arrangement can be pretty expensive because there'll be three homes to run. Additionally, this plan may not work if one parent doesn't have an alternative residence. Bird's nest custody can also make things difficult when deciding on various aspects of the children's lives.

Custody cases can be pretty confusing, especially with temporary custody court directives. You can ensure a fair hearing if you have a qualified attorney on your side. Don't risk an unfair child custody ruling after a divorce. Contact the Law Office of Leonard E. Kerr today.