Divorcing when you have children means that you and their other parent will have to make decisions about the kids. This isn’t always an easy feat. Some adults can work as a parenting team, but others are in a constant state of contention.
There are a few things that you’ll have to consider when you’re getting custody matters worked out. Understanding a few points might make this a bit easier.
Sole custody versus joint custody
Sole custody means that only one parent is responsible for the children. Joint custody means that both parents share the responsibilities. It’s possible for the parents to have joint physical custody but one parent has sole legal custody.
Legal custody versus physical custody
Legal custody has to do with who makes the decisions for the child. This can be split up into different areas. One word of caution about legal custody is that there should be provisions in place for what will happen in an emergency situation.
Physical custody has to do with who actually has the children with them. With very few exceptions, such as child abuse or neglect, parents will share joint custody of the child.
Getting the parenting plan set quickly can help provide the children with the stability they need. The priority is to make sure that everything is set up in their best interests. It’s usually best to have someone who’s worked with situations like yours helping you so you can get things set up in the best way possible. Just be sure that you don’t allow the custody arrangements to turn into a battle that does more harm than good.
