It’s very important for parents to understand their child custody options during divorce. Dividing custody of their kids may be one of the most important things they do, and it can have a major impact on their future.
This starts with physical custody. The child may live with one parent all of the time, meaning they have primary custody, while the other parent simply sees them for visitations. Or physical custody may be split between both parents, so the child moves back and forth between their homes. There are many different schedules that can be used, such as an every-other-week exchange or a 2-2-3 exchange—two days with one parent, two days with the other parent, and then the three days would alternate with one parent one week and the other parent the next week.
Legal custody issues
However, it’s important to know that there’s a difference when it comes to legal custody. This doesn’t govern where the child lives or who is in charge of them. Instead, it addresses the decisions that parents are going to have to make.
Where is the child going to go to school? What doctor should they see or what type of healthcare should they receive? Are they going to open up financial accounts at a local bank? What type of religion are they going to be raised in?
All the above are legal custody issues that parents may have to address. They need to come to an agreement if they share custody, but one parent can unilaterally make these decisions if they have sole legal custody, even if physical custody has been split between both of them.
There are many complications to address during a divorce, and it’s important for parents to know what steps they can take to put their child’s best interest first. Seeking legal guidance is a good way to get started.