| During the starting phase of child custody | | | | guardianship arrangements are very rare, and are |
| arrangement we need to consider different | | | | generally restricted to situations where one parent |
| alternatives regarding different types of possible | | | | has been deemed in poor condition or unable of |
| custody arrangements. For example, both of the | | | | having any form of responsibility over a child -- for |
| parents might want to work out an arrangement | | | | example, due to drug addiction or proof of child |
| under which you both make decisions on the child's | | | | ill-treatment. In sole custody situations, the child's |
| upbringing and wellbeing. This type of arrangement is | | | | non-custodial parent has neither physical nor legal |
| called "joint legal custody" in most states. Or, you | | | | custody rights, but may be entitled to periods of |
| may sense that your counterpart is currently unfit or | | | | visitation with the child. |
| incapable of any parental responsibility, in that case | | | | 4. Joint custody |
| you may wish to have sole custody of your child. | | | | It has two phases: joint legal custody and joint |
| Custody Types | | | | physical custody. A joint custody order can have one |
| 1. Legal Custodygrants a guardian the right to make | | | | or both parts. |
| long-standing decisions about the future of a child, | | | | Joint legal custody refers to both parents sharing in |
| and key aspects of the child's wellbeing - including | | | | major decisions affecting the child. The custody order |
| education, medical care, dental care, and religious | | | | may describe the issues on which the parents must |
| instruction. In most of the cases, joint legal custody is | | | | share decisions. |
| awarded to both parents except it is revealed that | | | | Joint physical custody refers to the time the child |
| one of them is unfit, or is unable of making right | | | | spends with each parent. The amount of time is |
| decisions about the child's upbringing. Legal custody is | | | | flexible. The length of time could be relatively |
| different from physical custody, which involves issues | | | | moderate, such as every other weekend with one |
| such as where the child will live. | | | | parent; or the amount of time could be equally |
| 2. Physical Custodyof a child gives the right to grant | | | | divided between the parents. Parents who opt for |
| everyday care for the child. When a physical custody | | | | equal time-sharing have come up with many |
| is granted to a parent then he dictates about the | | | | alternatives such as: alternate two-day periods; equal |
| living location of the child. Recent custody provisions | | | | division of the week; alternate weeks; alternate |
| give physical custody to custodial parent and grant | | | | months; and alternate six month periods. |
| visitation rights and shared legal custody to the | | | | Sometimes neither parent can correctly assume |
| non-custodial parent. Usually, visitation rights offer the | | | | custody of the children. Possibly because of |
| non-custodial parent exclusive time with the child | | | | substance abuse, a mental health problem, and |
| every other weekend, alternating major holidays, and | | | | absence or incarceration. In these situations, |
| a number of weeks during the vacations. | | | | someone other than the parents may be granted |
| 3. Sole custodyof a child has exclusive physical and | | | | custody of the children or given a temporary |
| legal custody rights regarding the child. Sole | | | | guardianship or foster care arrangement by a court. |