Who is the custodial parent?

Child custody arrangements will be in place after a divorce is completed. Divorce proceedings make decisions on marital issues before the couple moves forward individually with their own separate lives. These marital issues can include the division of assets, alimony, child support and child custody. Since child custody matters do not involve possessions, but rather a parent’s most valuable part of life, this can be a very emotional matter for parents and even for children. Children can be unaware of what is happening. However, they may be unsure of how much they will see their parents, which can upset them. Judges will need to consider a variety of factors when deciding on a child custody arrangement for that family. During these cases, judges keep the best interests of the child in mind to determine what arrangement will be best for them. They want to make sure that the children are growing up in a safe environment with a loving parent.

When a parent is granted with physical custody of their child, they can be referred to as the custodial parent in this family. The custodial parent is the parent that the child will reside with. The other parent may have visitation rights with the child. However, the custodial parent is the one who will spend more time with the child on a regular basis. Due to this, the custodial parent may be paid child support by the other parent to support the child’s living standards. Most of the time for these cases, parents can be granted shared custody of children. This can provide more equal facetime with the children. They will be able to be involved in the child’s life equally and the child can feel comforted seeing both their parents on a regular basis.

Can I get legal custody if I’m not the custodial parent?

Legal custody and physical custody are different. Due to this, just because a parent gets physical custody, does not mean they are given legal custody as well. One parent can have legal custody while the other has physical custody of the child. Legal custody allows a parent to be involved in the child’s life by making major decisions for the child. These decisions can center around the child’s education, medical treatment, religion and more.

If you require compassionate and knowledgeable legal guidance for a matter of divorce, family or estate law, please contact the experienced attorneys at the Law Offices of Cynthia L. Hanley today. Our firm proudly serves clients in Mansfield, Massachusetts and throughout Bristol County.