Child custody decisions need to be made when parents get a divorce. Many things that they do jointly during their marriage have to be considered after the divorce, so a custody order is necessary. This helps to give children stability, it defines parental rights and it helps to establish your schedule for the future.
On one hand, you need to think about the physical custody rights that you have to live with the child. It is important to ask questions like when you and your ex are going to make child custody exchanges or how many days you want the child to live with you in a row. For instance, some couples use an every-other-week exchange, but there are others who think that going a week without seeing their child is too long, so they will use a 2-2-3 schedule. It is all up to you and what fits best in your situation.
What does legal custody address?
Even with the physical custody side sorted out, you still have to think about legal custody. Parents have decision-making power for their children while they are still minors. Legal custody helps to split up the obligation and define your rights.
For instance, maybe you want to enroll your child in school or take them to the pediatrician. These are major decisions that can have a big impact on the child’s life. If both parents have legal custody, then they need to work together and make these decisions jointly. But if you have sole legal custody, then you do not necessarily have to talk to your ex, and you can just make the best decision for your child on your own.
Of course, there can be some conflict when splitting up both physical and legal custody, so couples need to be sure they are aware of their legal options.
