The divorce process is used to make decisions on important issues. Couples have many issues to talk through with one another. Although this may be difficult, it is needed to complete their divorce. Child custody arrangements are among one of the many decisions that need to be made during this process. Not only can this decision affect both spouses, but it can also affect the children that are involved in the divorce. Custody arrangements can decide who the children spend more of their time with. It can also determine which parent has rights to make decisions regarding the child’s life. For these cases, custody is arranged by physical and legal custody. Parents are given certain rights based on these chains of custody.
Physical custody gives one parent the role of custodial parent, making them the main guardian for the child since the child will live with them on a regular basis. This role means that the child will reside with this parent on a regular basis. Although the child may be able to spend time in their other parent’s home, the custodial parent is the one that they will see more of the time. Legal custody refers to the ability to make decisions for your child. When parents are given this right, they can decide on important issues for the child’s well-being. This can include the child’s education, religion, medical treatment and more. With this role, the parent can still be given authority over their child’s life even if they are not named as the custodial parent.
Can these arrangements be changed?
Custody arrangements are court-ordered agreements that parents must follow or they may have consequences brought upon them. Parents must follow these arrangements or they may face penalties in retribution for their lack of cooperation with the agreement, such as being held in contempt of court. This has the ability to affect their rights for their child. As circumstances change in a parent’s life or in the child’s life, the arrangement may have to be revisited. These arrangements can be modified to better fit the lives of these parents and of the children.
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