Who gets custody of the children? This is one of the most important and controversial issues in any divorce or custody proceeding. Custody rules often don’t make any sense because there are so many factors to consider. It is an issue that must be addressed and is carefully examined by the courts and arranged so that the best interests of the child are the main issue.

Joint custody appears to be occupying a central place in the courts. Although this does not simplify the problem, it is a way of being fair to both parents. Joint custody involves both legal and physical custody. From an outsider’s perspective, this appears to be more confusing than traditional forms of custody, but it actually serves the interests of all parties involved.

Here are some things to keep in mind regarding joint custody issues:

– The joint physical exam involves the child living with both parents in an arrangement that involves a 50/50 split to a 70/30 split. In this scenario, both parents have the same opportunity to raise their children in their homes. It rarely affects the amount of child support a spouse might have to pay, but is based on the amount of time the child spends with each parent.

– Joint legal custody is another option. The non-custodial parent has the right to see the child’s private records, such as medical and educational, as well as participate in important decisions made on the child’s behalf. Legal custody has no bearing on child support payments and does not take into account the amount of time the child may spend with the non-custodial parent.

– Joint physical custody implies that both parents have the child for a specific period of time. Often this involves a primary and secondary physical custodian. The primary physical custodian is the parent who has daily custody. The parent who has secondary physical custody has visitation rights. These can be holidays, alternate weekends, and time during summer vacation.

Child support is determined by the amount of money both parents contributed to the total household income. If there is a large income disparity between parents, this is taken into account. The aim is to provide the child with a similar standard of living. So, as you might guess, child support is not based solely on custody.

The courts are concerned with the welfare of the child. Try to make a fair assessment when determining child custody and support. This is the most controversial issue to resolve before the partners part. Child custody decisions take a significant amount of time to resolve. The effort it takes to establish fair guidelines can take months.