The end of your marriage represents significant changes in multiple areas of your life. You may be with your kids less often, or you may have to move homes. You will likely experience changes in your finances and other areas, and it is beneficial to be prepared to make adjustments. However, more than any other thing you hope to obtain from the terms of your divorce order, you want to secure a stable future for your children.
One of your primary concerns is likely what type of custody order will be best for your family. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to handling custody, but it will be helpful to understand all of the options available to you. By doing this, you will be able to make choices that will provide your kids with stability and security long-term.
Types of custody and visitation options
You and the other parent have the right to work together to create a custody solution that will work for the unique needs of your family. If you choose to create your custody order, you will benefit from understanding more about the different types of custody and how you can create a plan that is suitable and sustainable. Some of the different custody terms that will be important include:
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Legal custody — This refers to a parent’s right to make important decisions on behalf of a child, such as those pertaining to religious training, education or medical care.
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Physical custody — This refers to how much time a child will have with his or her parents, including weekend visitation, holidays, summer vacations and more.
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Joint custody –– This refers to a custody arrangement in which the parents will more than likely share equitable legal and physical custody.
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Sole custody — This is when it is in the best interests of a child for one parent to retain custody, either physical or legal, of a child.
Before you make any custody decisions that could affect your children or agree to any custody plan offered by the other parent, you will benefit from understanding all of the options available to you. It may even be beneficial to speak with a professional about how you can create a custody strategy that will allow you to look to your post-divorce future with confidence.