When parents separate, the child custody arrangement is often one of the most challenging things to figure out and agree upon. Even if parents are at odds with each other, they both only want what is best for their kids. In Florida, there are a variety of child custody arrangements. However, the two primary types of child custody are legal custody and physical custody.
Legal custody
Legal custody refers to the parent’s right to make the major decisions related to their child’s upbringing. These decisions typically involve the children’s education, religion, medical care and extracurricular activities. Legal custody can be either sole or joint. If a parent is awarded sole legal custody, it means he or she has the right to make all decisions related to the children without consulting the other parent.
Physical custody
Physical custody refers to which parent the children will physically live with. Parents who have physical custody provide housing and take care of the children’s day-to-day physical needs, such as food and clothing. Like legal custody, physical custody can be either sole or joint. These days, shared physical custody seems to be the most popular and preferred arrangement.
Getting help with child custody
When it comes to custody, courts in Florida base their decisions on the children’s best interests regardless of what the parents want. Florida parents who need help with any matters relating to child custody do not have to go through this experience alone. An experienced family law attorney can provide invaluable legal guidance and assist parents in obtaining long-term solutions that benefit all parties.