- "Child custody, conservatorship and guardianship describe the legal and practical relationship between a parent and the parent's child, such as the right of the parent to make decisions for the child, and the parent's duty to care for the child."
Types of custody arrangements such as physical custody, legal custody, sole custody, and joint custody.
Types of Child Custody: This topic introduces the different types of child custody arrangements such as sole custody, joint custody, legal custody, physical custody, and bird’s nest custody.
Child Custody Laws: Covers the legal framework that governs the issue of child custody.
Factors that Influence Child Custody: Explains the factors that judges consider when awarding child custody, such as the child’s best interest, the parent's mental and physical health, financial stability, and the child's preferences.
Types of Custody Agreements: Covers the different types of custody agreements, such as parenting plans, mediation, and negotiation, and the legal aspects involved with each type.
Child Support: Explains the financial obligations of the non-custodial parent towards child support, how the amount is calculated, and how it is enforced.
Visitation and Parenting Time: Covers the times when the non-custodial parent has access to the child, the arrangements for visitation and parenting time, and how it can be modified.
Child Custody Evaluations: Covers how custody evaluations work, who evaluates, what factors are taken into account, and the role of the evaluator in the outcome of the custody arrangement.
Modification of Child Custody: Explains the circumstances and procedures for modifying custody agreements, including a change of circumstances or relocation.
Enforcement of Custody Orders: Discusses what to do if a parent does not comply with the custody order, and the legal proceedings that can be taken against such a parent.
International Child Custody: Covers the laws and procedures for international child custody disputes and the Hague Convention.
Grandparent Visitation: Explains the rights of grandparents to have visitation rights and what conditions should be met to grant these visitations.
Military Child Custody: Discusses the issues involved when one or both parents are military personnel, including deployment and custody arrangements during deployment.
Domestic Violence and Child Custody: Explains the impact of domestic violence on child custody cases and how it can affect custody arrangements.
Parental Alienation: Covers the issue of parental alienation, what it means, how it occurs, and its impact on custody arrangements.
Same-sex Parenting: Discusses the legal challenges faced by same-sex parents in child custody battles, including adoption and custody arrangements.
Physical Custody: This type of custody pertains to the physical care and living arrangements of the child after a divorce or separation. The parent with physical custody is responsible for the day-to-day living of the child, including their meals, education, and health.
Legal Custody: This type of custody pertains to the legal responsibility of making decisions for the child, such as school and medical decisions. In cases where both parents share legal custody, they must work together to make decisions for their child's benefit.
Joint Custody: This type of custody allows both parents to have a say in the child's upbringing and decisions, including legal and physical custody. The child usually spends equal time with both parents.
Sole Custody: In this type, one parent is awarded both physical and legal custody of the child. This means that the child will primarily live with, and all decisions will be made by, one parent.
Shared Custody: In a shared custody arrangement, the child spends a significant amount of time with both parents. The parents must work together to create a schedule that ensures the child's welfare and stability.
Bird's Nest Custody: This type of arrangement involves keeping the child in one fixed residence while the parents take turns living with the child at the residence. The advantage is that the child does not have to move around constantly.
Third-Party Custody: In cases where both parents cannot care for their child, third-party custody comes into play. In this scenario, a relative, foster parent, or other responsible adult takes on the responsibility of legal and physical custody.
Split Custody: This custody agreement allows siblings to be divided between parents. Each parent takes full custody of one or more siblings.
Hybrid Custody: This custody agreement combines different types of custody arrangements to suit the child's and the parent's needs. The hybrid approach allows parents to design custody agreements based on unique circumstances.
- "Custody issues typically arise in proceedings involving divorce, as well as in paternity, annulment, and other legal proceedings in which children are involved."
- "In most jurisdictions, the issue of with which parent the child will reside is determined in accordance with the best interests of the child standard."
- "In rare cases, custody may be awarded to somebody other than a parent, but only after the fundamental right afforded to biological parent's has been overcome or where the third party has an established role that is in the manner of a parent."
- "When a child's parents are not married, it is necessary to establish paternity before issues of child custody or support may be determined by a court."
- "Family law proceedings that involve issues of custody and visitation often generate the most acrimonious disputes."
- "In extreme cases, one parent may accuse the other of trying to 'turn' the child(ren) against him or her, allege some form of emotional, physical, or even sexual abuse by the other parent, the 'residential' parent may disrupt the other parent's contact or communication with the child(ren), or a parent may remove the child from the jurisdiction in violation of court orders, so as to frustrate the other parent's contact with the children."
- "Courts and legal professionals within the U.S. may use terms such as 'parenting time' instead of custody and visitation."
- "The goal of the newer, alternative terminology is to eliminate the distinction between custodial and noncustodial parents and to better focus on the best interests of the children."
- "Crafting schedules that meet the developmental needs of the children. For example, small children may need shorter, more frequent time with parents, whereas older children and teenagers can tolerate and may demand less frequent shifts, but longer blocks of time with each parent."