4 Main Types of Child Custody Orders
While over 90% of people in the United States enjoy marriage by age 50, close to 50% of marriages end in divorce. Unfortunately, making the wrong decision when it comes to child custody can lead to potential psychological issues in children later in life. This is why choosing the right parent to raise the child, someone who has the best interest of the child in mind, is a crucial step to take. Sometimes, a parent may wrongfully accuse the other parent in order to receive full custody, or in some cases, an unfair custody order may be granted.
Do not let this happen to you. Get in touch with an Oklahoma family lawyer today to ensure your rights are protected.
Basics of Child Custody Laws
All biological parents have certain rights when it comes to raising their children. This includes legal rights, like signing consent forms, choosing whether to homeschool your child, or when to take your child for a doctor’s visit. Marriage means that both parents are expected to work together to make these types of legal decisions for their children until they reach the age of consent.
However, divorce introduces a division of responsibilities that need to be regulated legally with child custody orders. Child custody orders are enforced on each parent by the court and require full cooperation; otherwise, there may be legal consequences. This does not mean that a final custody order is permanent.
When a child is neglected, abused, or the parent has experienced a significant change in their daily life, a child custody order may be changed. You will need to file a motion to modify the custody order form to the court with empirical reasons for making the change.
Types of Child Custody
The four main types of child custody orders are sole legal custody, joint legal custody, sole physical custody, and joint physical custody. These fit two larger categories of physical and legal custody. Physical custody determines where your child will be raised and who will raise your child. Legal custody enforces which parents retain their original legal rights as a parent when it comes to making decisions for their child.
Joint physical custody means your child will live with both parents on a scheduled basis. For example, your child may live with one parent for a month and the other parent for the next month, on a repeated cycle. Sole physical custody means your child will only be allowed to live with one parent, but the other parent may have visitation rights.
Joint legal custody lets both parents retain their original legal rights to make decisions for their child. Sole legal custody, as you might have guessed by the pattern, only grants one parent permission to retain the rights to make decisions.
Divorce Attorney in Oklahoma
The child custody process can be tedious and complicated. Try consulting with an Oklahoma City divorce lawyer if you have questions about your divorce or rights as a parent. You may not have to settle for a child custody arrangement that you feel is unfair. Contact the Putnam Law Office today at (405)-849-9149 for consultation. We will work with you to obtain what works best for you and your children. Mr. Putnam is an Oklahoma City, OK attorney who puts clients first.
