It is important for parents who are in the middle of filing for divorces understand child custody definitions and know their legal rights. A Child Custody Lawyer in Jacksonville can help his clients by determining the best child custody arrangements for his clients and demonstrating to judges the ways that his clients are responsible parents.
Types of Child Custody Arrangements
* Legal Custody refers to the guardian who will make the child’s legal decisions. This person will decide where the child will go to school, the religious upbringing he will have and the medical care he will receive when necessary
* In sole legal custody arrangements, only one parent is determined capable of making legal decisions for the child. In joint legal custody cases both parents are eligible to make legal decisions on their child’s behalf. Parents who are amicable following a divorce, may decide to have a joint legal custody arrangements even when it is not granted in a courtroom.
* Physical Custody refers to who the child will live with and be raised by. Both sole and joint custody arrangements may be granted by judges for cases involving physical custody. In sole custody cases, the child lives with one parent the majority of the time. In joint custody arrangements, both parents can have the child live with them for specified amounts of time, such as weeks or years.
When to Hire a Child Custody Lawyer
It can be difficult for people who are inexperienced with child custody laws to prove to a judge that they are fit parents. In addition, some cases may be complex and require a legal expert to help when cases involve issues such as interstate child laws. A Child Custody Lawyer in Jacksonville will use his knowledge and experience to make sure that the best parent gets a chance to raise the child.
