Going through the process of a divorce is clearly a very stressful experience. With all of the details that need to be attended to in addition to the emotional issues involved, it can be a difficult situation to handle. This stress can be compounded when children are involved. While child custody is a complex process, there are some general elements that one can keep in mind to more clearly understand it.
Child custody can be grouped into several different categories. There is physical and legal custody to take into account. Usually, physical custody is awarded to one parent with whom the child will live the majority of the time. However, legal custody is often shared between the two parents. This means that certain elements of the child’s life can have input from both parents involved.
After physical and legal custody, there are other types as well, including joint and split custody. Joint custody involves both parents having custody of the child or children equally. The time spent with each parent is the same as the other. Split custody, while usually not ideal for the overall wellbeing of the children involved, involves children being separated from each other to live with different parents.
While these are just a few types of child custody, it is clear that it is a complex issue that involves many different factors depending on the situation. In such situations, it can be important to contact an experienced attorney so that one can navigate the stress and decisions with a more confident legal ground.