Understanding Child Custody
When two parents decide to split up, they must find out a way to negotiate the terms of child custody. The parents may try to do this through mediation, but if that is not possible then they may have to attend court for a judge to have the final say. There are many levels of custody a parent may be awarded. Disputes regarding who gets custody can get ugly very quickly, as emotions are probably running very high during this time.
An attorney at The McKinney Law Group understands how stressful fighting for child custody may be for you and your children. Our Tampa, FL divorce attorney will do everything in their power to see that you maintain a strong relationship with your children.
Physical Custody
The judge may decide to award sole physical custody to one parent, or have each parent share this role through joint physical custody. The benefits of shared custody can be that each parent still feels as though he or she plays a pivotal role in their children’s lives. It can also be healthy for children to maintain an equal relationship and shared time with each parent, versus feeling like one parent is seen less often than the other. When parents are trying to figure out the terms of child custody through mediation, they may consider the following:
- What days or weeks shall be spent with each parent (assuming they both have joint physical custody)
- Whether one parent or the other plans to move within the next year or so
- How well each parent can deal with seeing the other on a fairly regular basis (when dropping off or picking up children)
- Which school the children would go to based on where both parents live
- How holidays and weekends are to be split up for the year
Legal Custody
Similar to physical custody, a judge may award one parent sole legal custody, or have each parent share this role together. The parent with legal custody can make decisions regarding their children’s medical care, after school activities, education, religion, and more. An attorney at The McKinney Law Group can help you get ready for mediation sessions or court hearings in regards to custody. It is common for both parents to be awarded joint legal custody, unless any of the following had occurred throughout the marriage:
- Abusive behavior (physical, mental or emotional)
- Neglect involving the children or other parent
- Incarceration
- Diagnosis of mental illness which has an impact on parenting
- Substance abuse (alcohol or drugs)
- Abandonment
Contact Our Tampa Divorce Lawyer Today
If you are going through a divorce or considering filing for divorce, our divorce lawyer can provide the professional representation that you need to navigate the process. To discuss your situation with our team, contact The McKinney Law Group today.
